Precepts of Engaged Buddhism

In his book Interbeing, Thich Nhat Hanh lays out the following 14 Precepts of Engaged BuddhismThe Heart of the Buddha's Teaching (here paraphrased), which emphasize social change as beginning with oneself.

1. Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones.
2. Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints.
3. Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrow-mindedness.
4. Do not avoid suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
5. Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
6. Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.
7. Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you.
8. Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
9. Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
10. Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
11. Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realise your ideal of compassion.
12. Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.
13. Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
14. Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realisation of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relations, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world.Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World

Sex Tourism During the Riots

 Downtown Bangkok has finally stopped smoldering, but a curfew is still in effect after anti-government protesters looted and burned downtown for over two months. The shaky calm has both Thai officials and millions of men all over the world asking: Is it safe enough for sex tourism yet?

Thailand's sex trade, which pumps millions of dollars into the Thai economy, has taken a big hit since the protests began this spring. Thailand was once paradise for these men—among them fetishists and pedophiles—but the spell has since been broken. No one really wants their exotic intercourse interrupted by machine-gun fire or beer runs inconvenienced by police checkpoints, although some are, of course, willing to live with it if that's what it takes. Frustrated sex tourists are now being forced to cancel their vacations or wait it out in their cheap rented rooms until the party starts up again.

I came to Bangkok in early May to cover the red-shirt protests and ran into many sex tourists not quite ready to throw in the towel. Most of the men I met in the city's sex districts back then, before the violence began in earnest in the city center, brushed off the conflict completely. They were sure it wouldn't get bad—this is mellow, eager-to-please Thailand, after all—and continued on their merry boozing and screwing ways. Patpong, Thailand's most famous sex district, had been closed by demonstrations, but there were always other places to go to.

The mood turned somber after what happened around Nana Plaza. A popular, multistoried complex of go-go bars featuring women wearing numbers pinned to crotchless bikini bottoms who stare vacantly and listlessly sway against metal poles, the place was suddenly surrounded with razor-wire and signs designating the area a "live-fire zone." Now it was harder to keep up the fantasy, and Thailand's problems were suddenly the problem of every sex tourist from Japan to Germany. The curfew, which went into effect last week, also shut down Pattaya, a town a few hours southeast of Bangkok, where it seems the entire local economy revolves around the sex trade and which is known for tolerating prostitution by underage boys and girls.

story continues: http://www.slate.com/id/2255294/

Children's Book - Mubu the Heroine animal doctor

Mubu's Home




Mubu is swinging her way into you and your children's life!

Mubu & Mu-Mu the little animal doctor

Mubu's Home

Yes that’s right,

                                             we’re coming!

The Field Service Officer

This is an insight into one of the least known services in the world. I am writing a Novel on my service with the United Nations as a field service officer.

The book will be fictionalised but will be based on true events that happened to me on my 15 years tenure with the UN.

I served in some of the most hazardous post war torn regions in the world Beirut, Cambodia, Mozambique, Angola and the Eastern Congo, this will be my story.

Beirut was a mess in 1990 regardless of the ongoing conflict it was business as usual communications teams were tasked with ensuring the continued operation of the mission communications systems.

The area of operations was vast and most travel was carried out by vehicle although Beirut was only accessible by helo. Beirut was in ruins and sporadic fighting continued and although the team will be unarmed work on vital communications equipments had to be carried out.

Arriving by Helo on the waterfront it suddenly hit you the overpowering and looming international hotels casting a shadow over the heli pad. Standing proud charred with shrapnel and bullet holes they had lost there mystique and inviting appeal now just shells of there former glory.

The order was flash jackets and helmets, and we decided to build a shield in the rear of the cruieser with with tool boxes and spares, a nice shield should they start shooting from behind.

We made sure the med kit, radio and gps were on us with our ready bags containing ration packs, water a roll of toilet paper, if we had to bail out then we had the essentials.

The Apc led the way the team stuck in close and followed with the cruiser, what with shelling and sniper fire cracking and banging around us it was a bit unnerving feeling so vulnerable, the Apc was the place to be.

The smell of cordite wafted through the car, and an unbearable stench of burnt human flesh hung in the air, it was putrid and sickly, the convoy continued through the gray smoke and burning tyres used for road blocks when suddenly the radio blared with a message infroming us the road ahead had been closed due to the heavy fighting, so the only cause of action was to divert to a safe house the Mayflower hotel in Hamra.

Arriving safely at the hotel and after an informal check in our first stop was the hotel bar and as usual old "George" who had been the resident barman and story teller. He was quietly preparing the bar for us when we entered, he was overjoyed with our arrival and soon had us all entranced in one of his magical stories.

Its like he had been created with the hotel believe me he had some stories to tell, from the occupation by the Israelis to being kidnapped himself, by whom and for what got muddled in some of the other stories along with the numerous whiskies taken in, so with more than a few under the belt and a mind full of war stories and the clacking and banging from munitions outside I headed to bed......!

See more at the web site www.fieldserviceofficer.com

This is fiction at its best and will leave you wanting more.

The characters in this book are purely fictional. Any similarities between them and real individuals are purely coincidental.

Well United Nations answer me!

I found this question, and a very serious one that was directed to the United Nations. I never did see an answer, so can you answer this ladies question.

Gloire Amani Kabare Ammany 

Dear MONUC,

I hope this message finds you well. The reason why I have decide to write to you this message is because I just wonder to know if the Rebel General Laurent Nkunda is still alive in custody (remain in jail in Rwanda) and waiting to be sent back home to face trial (D.R.Congo supervisor by the International Criminal Court and UN). I understood that the ICC has no police force of its own to track down and arrest suspects. Instead it must rely on national police services to make arrests and seek their transfer to The Hague.

My question is if Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former vice president in Congo putted on trial for alleged crimes against humanity of leading militias who murdered and raped civilians in Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003. So what about Rebel General Laurent Nkunda? In 2005, The "Congolese government" issued an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes. In addition, the point I am trying to make is also support by Human Rights Watch who says "his troops have been implicated in numerous killings, torture and rapes." 

We want justice for all of them and therefore will send a strong message to those who still using violent. I want straight answer please.

I am one of the youngest generations and only want justice. As I believe in unity instead of division simply because we are one nation (Tutsi, Hutu and other Congolese ethnics within our country are one); and I think it wrong to promote violent to gain peace. I would sincere thanks you for all the taugh job you're currently doing in my country and still hope for change.

Thanks for your time and comprehension.

Gloire

Clockwork Orange

A British couple have become victims of a horrendous Clockwork Orange-style sex attack ordeal while on holiday in Thailand.

The professional couple had chosen the Thai holiday island of Koh Chang to round off a memorable one-year sabbatical from their jobs touring the world.

But last night, the couple, one a government employee, the other a businessman, fled Thailand after they were subjected to a night of terror in which they say they were drugged and raped by a gang they suspect preys on foreign tourists.

Paradise lost: Koh Chang island in Thailand, where a British businessman was forced to watch a sexual assault on his wife

The couple did not wish to be fully identified. But the man, Richard, 42, remembers being forced to watch as his wife Susan, 31, was sexually assaulted by two men.

For the next two days, the couple lay almost motionless in their holiday bungalow as gradually their memories returned.

They called the police, but when nobody went to see them, they went to a local hospital to be examined by doctors.

Richard said: 'The doctor there examined us and listened to our story and seemed to know what had happened straight away.

'He told us we were showing all the symptoms of having been given the drug Dormicum – a date rape drug. I do not know the drug, but it seemed of no surprise to the doctor.

'When I asked the doctor if he could check for any traces, he said no, it would have been cleared out of our systems by now.'

Vile: The couple were drugged in the Clockwork Orange-style attack and lay still for two days as they slowly came to their senses

Examinations showed both had been raped and sexually abused in other ways.

They contacted the police, who they say showed scant interest and did little in the way of investigation.

They also contacted British authorities, but say the British representative on the island who came to see them was not interested either.

Last night, they were on their way back to Britain, with little prospect of anything being done. But they wanted to make others aware of the dangers of making contact with strangers in such places.

Richard said: 'I know many people are not going to believe this and say that we must have been taking drink or drugs through choice. But nothing could be further from the truth.'

Susan said the night of their ordeal began with a pleasant drink at a beach bar, where they met an Englishwoman and some Frenchmen. They stayed in their company at the bar, although at one point she and her partner left for a short time, returning to join them. It was at that point, she believes, the drinks were spiked.

'Things became a bit hazy. And then one of the Frenchmen lifted me up and carried me out of the bar. In a normal situation I would not let anybody do such a thing. It was bizarre.'

The group all went back to the couple's bungalow.

Coming home: The couple are making their way back to Britain from the island close to the Cambodian border

'Then things got hazier and hazier,' she said.

'Everything was a blur.'

Richard said he could vaguely remember being outside the bungalow and watching through a window as Susan was assaulted by the men.

'The next thing it was light and I was lying on the balcony in a foetal position and the Frenchman were standing above me looking down and laughing and saying what they had done to Susan.'

He realised that at some point he too had been sexually attacked.

The couple said that when they were able to complain to police 'they did not seem very interested'.

After contacting the British Embassy they were visited by a consular representative, a local Thai woman, who told them the police would not take the case seriously.

'We have been contacted by the police who have asked us what we are going to do,' said Richard.

'We do not want to let the matter drop. But we must get home to our families.'

A Thai Police spokesman strenuously denied they were not taking the couple's complaint seriously and said an investigation was under way.

A British Embassy spokesman said: 'The consular team in Bangkok have been in touch throughout to give help and advice to the British nationals involved and are urgently following up with the Thai police.

'A member of staff from our consulate in Pattaya visited the British nationals within the first day of the embassy being contacted to provide face-to-face assistance. Our consular staff in London have also been in touch with the family members in the UK.'