In the wake of the events of September
11, a number of Buddhist teachers and practitioners have
offered thoughts and prayers for guidance during this time.
Teacher Responses
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Ways Toward
Change
Christopher Titmuss
Dear Friends,
Like myself, you probably received hundreds
of e-mails concerned the tragic and brutal events in the
USA in the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and spent
many, many hours responding to them. You may have written
letters to your elected leaders or newspapers. You have
probably signed several e-mail petitions, read many thoughtful
pieces from the Dalai Lama, Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, Noam Chomsky.
Afghani writers and harrowing personal accounts from New
York City.
The massive number of such circulating
e-mails are well-intentioned but, in this critical time
of uncertainy, we are in danger of getting lost in a cyber
space response to current and forthcoming events. We are
mostly e-mailing each other, communicating with the converted,
that is around 10%, who oppose a "war on terrorism"
and its nightmare consequences. We have to reach out to
the 90% to point the way to peace, justice and compassion
for all those who suffer. I believe the USA government,
the Pentagon and its allies must enter into a period of
profound and honest soul searching to understand clearly
dependent arising circumstances.
Well-meaning and insightful e-mails are
invaluable in many ways. They help keep us focussed on this
period of a probable impending war. It is important to use
the FORWARD button. But a change in the current menacing
political attitude will not take place through this resource.
E-mails can inform, inspire, tell of forthcoming events
and remind us to act. I believe one of the most powerful
resources for political change, as history shows, is promoting
our concerns on the streets of our cities and towns. We
must reach the public. Please ask yourselves what you can
do outside of cyberspace.
WAYS TOWARDS CHANGE INCLUDE:
1. Peaceful demonstrations.
2. Pilgrimages for Reconciliation (Yatras in the Buddhist
tradition).
3. Debates from local level up to the UN.
4. Essays, Articles, Books 5. Education.
6. The Arts
7. Petitions
8. Letters, leaflets, flyers.
9. Public meetings
10.Subscriptions to organistions and publications working
for peace, justice and resolution of suffering
11. Donations (Buddhist word is dana) and support for charities
working for people, animals and environment
12.Workshops and Retreats to develop inner-outer understanding.
On Saturday, September 29, 2001, we will meet at 9.30 a.m
at the Buddhist Peace Pagoda in Battersea, south London
to initiate a silent, mindful and slow, single file walk
through the streets of London. We will stop at the Foreign
Office and also at the Israeli Embassy to deliver thoughtful
and considerate letters of concern. Please join our Pilgrimage
for Reconciliation (a Yatra) through London. Please FORWARD
this information to your friends. Please ask yourselves"What
can I do? What can I support?"
As citizens of democratic nations, I believe
we have to persuade our government to act with wisdom and
compassion. For example, I believe the right to nationhood
of the besieged Palestinian community is one of the key
factors to deal with this spiral of mistrust and retaliation
in the region and in the West.
Towards Resolution,
Christopher Titmuss
International Advisory Board Member Buddhist Peace Fellowship
