Since 1996, I have practiced and studied with a community of primarily Burmese Buddhist monks in Boulder Creek, CA at the Taungplulu Kaba-Aye Dhamma Center.
I strongly encourage everyone to educate themselves about the process of social transformation taking place in Burma. Buddhist monks continue to play a central role as advocates for a nonviolent and peaceful transition to democracy. In response, the Burmese Government has ordered a violent crackdown by soldiers who are killing and imprisoning and torturing people. Please act in solidarity for these peaceful and kind people!
Democracy Now: More Dead in Burma as Troops Fire on Defiant Anti-Government Protesters
In Burma, the military junta is continuing its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. Soldiers raided monasteries and fired at demonstrators. At least nine people were killed on Thursday, including a Japanese photojournalist. There are fears the death toll could be several times more. We speak with Burmese activist, Htun Aung Gway, president of the Civil Society for Burma.
Guardian UK: Buddhist monk rally steps up pressure on Burma’s junta
More than 2,000 Buddhist monks took to the streets of Burma again yesterday in the most sustained and widespread protest against the military junta for more than 10 years. The authorities made a rare admission that security forces had fired tear gas and warning shots to quell the unrest, which has spread across several cities over the past month.
Aung San Suu Kyi JAILED — from the Australian
[àu? s?á? s? t?ì]) is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar, and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance. A Buddhist, Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and in 1991 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship. She is currently under detention, with the Myanmar government repeatedly extending her detention. According to the results of the 1990 general election, Suu Kyi is Prime Minister elect of Myanmar, as leader of the winning National League for Democracy party, but her detention by the military junta has so far prevented her from assuming her elected role.
Ko Htike’s Blog: Ko Htike, a Burmese-born blogger. He is in contact with about 10 people inside Burma who send him information and photographs to post on his blog. He joins us on the telephone from London.
Taungplulu Kaba-Aye Dhamma Center:
The Taungplulu Kaba-Aye Dhamma Center (TKADC) was established in 1978 by the forest master Very Venerable Taungpulu Tawya Kaba-Aye Sayadaw of Upper Burma and his student Rina Sircar. The mission of TKADC is to offer Theravada Buddhist teachings as practiced in the Forest Tradition as a way to foster peace for all sentient beings. Kaba-Aye means world peace, and as the Venerable Sayadaw taught, world peace begins with inner peace. By cultivating mindfulness, clear comprehension, and metta (lovingkindness), you will be cultivating a peaceful mind and body for yourself which in turn creates a peaceful atmosphere around you enabling others to benefit. TKADC supports our three resident monks and offers retreats and workshops in both an urban and rural setting.
