Burmese Buddhist Monk Spreads Anti-Muslim Hatred

Every religion has extremists and people who hate in the name of religion. As a human I understand how hatred in the name of religion is possible, but as a Buddhist I believe this type of behavior by a monk is harmful to everyone. Advocation of hatred and violence will always bring more hatred and violence. Wirathu seems to be on a dark path that will only lead him back to himself. His behavior does not represent the Buddhism I know or want to know. His advocacy does not represent Buddhism. Wirathu is wrong. May he soon understand and acknowledge that.

His name is Wirathu, he calls himself the “Burmese Bin Laden” and he is a Buddhist monk who is stoking religious hatred across Burma. The saffron-robed 45-year-old regularly shares his hate-filled rants through DVD and social media, in which he warns against Muslims who “target innocent young Burmese girls and rape them”, and “indulge in cronyism”.

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To ears untrained in the Burmese language, his sermons seem steady and calm – almost trance-like – with Wirathu rocking back and forth, eyes downcast. Translate his softly spoken words, however, and it becomes clear how his paranoia and fear, muddled with racist stereotypes and unfounded rumours, have helped to incite violence and spread misinformation in a nation still stumbling towards democracy

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It's a disgrace when anyone in a position of power advocates hatred and violence. To do it under the guise of Buddhism is almost laughable.

Risky Thicket said:

Every religion has extremists and people who hate in the name of religion. As a human I understand how hatred in the name of religion is possible, but as a Buddhist I believe this type of behavior by a monk is harmful to everyone. Advocation of hatred and violence will always bring more hatred and violence. Wirathu seems to be on a dark path that will only lead him back to himself. His behavior does not represent the Buddhism I know or want to know. His advocacy does not represent Buddhism. Wirathu is wrong. May he soon understand and acknowledge that.



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That is indeed not language I would expect from a Buddhist.

Risky Thicket said:

Every religion has extremists and people who hate in the name of religion. As a human I understand how hatred in the name of religion is possible, but as a Buddhist I believe this type of behavior by a monk is harmful to everyone. Advocation of hatred and violence will always bring more hatred and violence. Wirathu seems to be on a dark path that will only lead him back to himself. His behavior does not represent the Buddhism I know or want to know. His advocacy does not represent Buddhism. Wirathu is wrong. May he soon understand and acknowledge that.



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Perhaps this monk needs a retreat that will help him refocus on his vows. I realize that for each of us it's a matter of individual conscience, but spreading discord is not the way, not for any of us.

nota bene said:

Perhaps this monk needs a retreat that will help him refocus on his vows. I realize that for each of us it's a matter of individual conscience, but spreading discord is not the way, not for any of us.

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Indeed. We are all human. Hopefully, other Buddhists have been outspoken in their concerns. We owe that to each other and to all people.

It's refreshing that you, as a Buddhist, will point to an example of a member of your religion who isn't a good example.

It's certainly commendable, as this world would be a better place, if all members of a religion would no longer defend mislead members of their own faith just for the sake of belonging to their own faith -- in an "us vs. them" mentality.

As a Baha'i, I don't really know about Baha'is who I think have a negative impact on our community or hateful track record towards other believes. But there is one thing about my faith I don't understand: The rule that homosexual marriages are not allowed, and homosexual acts are not allowed. I don't understand this rule. But I accept it, which is not difficult for me: I have no desire to marry a person of the same gender anyway, or to engage in homosexual acts.

Still I think in our day and age, in our societies, where there is much persecution and/or discrimination of homosexuals, it is much more important pointing out that i.e. badmouting homosexuals, or discriminating them, or the failure to treat them with respect as human beings is just as much a violation of divine law as homosexual acts are. As I understand my faith, speaking bad behind the back of a homosexual is not less of a violation of divine law, so is denying a homosexual civil and human rights, as the homosexual acts are. And the former are much more urgent to point out.

My decision to join the Baha'i faith was an individual decision. I see no reason to force my morality on others. So it's not up to me to lecture homosexuals, who have not voluntarily obliged themselves on the Baha'i faith, about moral behavior, just as I don't want non-Baha'is to lecture me what religion I am supposed to follow. But I think my faith gives me a lot of reasons to oppose inhumane treatment of people with a different sexual orientation.

I met Baha'i who see it differently, who use more harsh words or polemics to attack today's openness towards homosexuals. I disagree with them. I believe today, it's much more important to focus on the message of tolerance and live-and-let-live our religion provides.

Risky Thicket said:

Indeed. We are all human. Hopefully, other Buddhists have been outspoken in their concerns. We owe that to each other and to all people.

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I'd like to think that we all owe this to each other. And here is what I hope is a comforting thought: This monk has made news simply because what he's saying is so antithetical to Buddhist views.

Risky Thicket said:

Every religion has extremists and people who hate in the name of religion. As a human I understand how hatred in the name of religion is possible, but as a Buddhist I believe this type of behavior by a monk is harmful to everyone. Advocation of hatred and violence will always bring more hatred and violence. Wirathu seems to be on a dark path that will only lead him back to himself. His behavior does not represent the Buddhism I know or want to know. His advocacy does not represent Buddhism. Wirathu is wrong. May he soon understand and acknowledge that.



Source

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I know in that area of the world, in southern Thailand down by Malaysia which is Muslim, the Muslim extremist has been killing and blew up a couple of Buddhist temples/wats. But like you say, that does not excuse the Burmese Monk from a hate filled message. I’ll leave you with this:

He becomes a monk in all the different religions of the world so that he might free others from delusion and save them from falling into false view. Vimalakirti Sutra 8

This was Buddha’s way of telling us that the great and wise person, the bodhisattva does not have to be Buddhist . In fact, this wise person actually enters deeply into other religions, devoting his/her life to helping others through the means of those religions.

The doctrine in the end is not all that important. What matters is following the path of being who we are. What matters is being compassionate and not clinging to the idea what we alone know the truth.

nota bene said:

I'd like to think that we all owe this to each other. And here is what I hope is a comforting thought: This monk has made news simply because what he's saying is so antithetical to Buddhist views.

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Yes, I agree. In my understanding and practice, expressing hate and calling for violence is not what the Buddha taught. At the same time we all experience a crisis in faith from time to time. No one is a perfect example of the tenets of their religion; at least I haven't met anyone. Though I think that I have met a few people who were close, Christians and Buddhists and Muslims. There is also a rabbi whose writing is incredibly wise and inspiring, but I have not met him.

At this point let me say that anyone looking for a good example of a Buddhist would be wise not to look in my direction. I've been seconds away from enlightenment for many lifetimes. I doubt I'm any closer than I have been for thousands of years. I am no doubt a slow spiritual learner. You might assume that I have learned the virtue of patience.

It is my belief that we are witnessing Wirathu, the monk, learning a terribly difficult lesson. I cannot image how difficult it must be for him living in Burma. Love is the common denominator and pure truth of all religions. At times we all forget that, but this lesson is Wirathu's to learn. May he have peace.

German guy said:

It's refreshing that you, as a Buddhist, will point to an example of a member of your religion who isn't a good example.

It's certainly commendable, as this world would be a better place, if all members of a religion would no longer defend mislead members of their own faith just for the sake of belonging to their own faith -- in an "us vs. them" mentality.

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I am a Buddhist, and I have been for a little more than 20 years, but out of those 20 years I've been a good example for probably 20 minutes. LOL! If you ever want a good example of a Buddhist don't look at me.

As a Baha'i, I don't really know about Baha'is who I think have a negative impact on our community or hateful track record towards other believes. But there is one thing about my faith I don't understand: The rule that homosexual marriages are not allowed, and homosexual acts are not allowed. I don't understand this rule. But I accept it, which is not difficult for me: I have no desire to marry a person of the same gender anyway, or to engage in homosexual acts.

Still I think in our day and age, in our societies, where there is much persecution and/or discrimination of homosexuals, it is much more important pointing out that i.e. badmouting homosexuals, or discriminating them, or the failure to treat them with respect as human beings is just as much a violation of divine law as homosexual acts are. As I understand my faith, speaking bad behind the back of a homosexual is not less of a violation of divine law, so is denying a homosexual civil and human rights, as the homosexual acts are. And the former are much more urgent to point out.

My decision to join the Baha'i faith was an individual decision. I see no reason to force my morality on others. So it's not up to me to lecture homosexuals, who have not voluntarily obliged themselves on the Baha'i faith, about moral behavior, just as I don't want non-Baha'is to lecture me what religion I am supposed to follow. But I think my faith gives me a lot of reasons to oppose inhumane treatment of people with a different sexual orientation.

I met Baha'i who see it differently, who use more harsh words or polemics to attack today's openness towards homosexuals. I disagree with them. I believe today, it's much more important to focus on the message of tolerance and live-and-let-live our religion provides.

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In my life I cannot remember when I didn't believe in "Many paths, one destination."

I grew up as a Christian. Christianity is a fine religion. While is serves many people well, it does not work for me.

Without getting into the reincarnation thing I would tell you that I can't remember when I didn't believe in reincarnation. That made Christianity a bit difficult for me and made Buddhism somewhat easier, though I wasn't looking for religion when I discovered Buddhism. To be honest, I never spent much time thinking about homosexuality. Buddhism isn't concerned about it, so all that seemed to work out. I assume that on the path to enlightenment in one or more lives we are all probably going to be men and also women and non-white and gay or lesbian. It is - hopefully - how we learn compassion.

I didn't become a Buddhist until my adult life, years after my misspent youth - which I very much enjoyed. Somehow I escaped fatherhood until I got married. I remain amazed.

To be honest, I never thought about the Buddhist position on homosexuality, or a few other things, until after I became involved in Buddhism. Those issues were not important to me. But as you have said in earlier posts, religions evolve. As practitioners we will be part of the process. Baha'i will perhaps one day change its position regarding homosexuality. Religions evolve or they die.

Perotista said:

I know in that area of the world, in southern Thailand down by Malaysia which is Muslim, the Muslim extremist has been killing and blew up a couple of Buddhist temples/wats. But like you say, that does not excuse the Burmese Monk from a hate filled message. I’ll leave you with this:

He becomes a monk in all the different religions of the world so that he might free others from delusion and save them from falling into false view. Vimalakirti Sutra 8

This was Buddha’s way of telling us that the great and wise person, the bodhisattva does not have to be Buddhist . In fact, this wise person actually enters deeply into other religions, devoting his/her life to helping others through the means of those religions.

The doctrine in the end is not all that important. What matters is following the path of being who we are. What matters is being compassionate and not clinging to the idea what we alone know the truth.

Click to expand...

One of my favorite teachings is of religion being a boat. Of course I'll butcher the retelling of this teaching so please, if you know it, jump in. The Buddha said that religion was like a boat that we use to carry us from the shore of ignorance to the shore of understanding. Upon reaching the shore of understanding many of us become attached to the boat (religion) that took us there and thus we spend a great amount of our time carrying a boat on our shoulders long after we reach the shore of understanding. We cannot let go because it served us well. It is not however something we need to carry around on our shoulders once we've reached the shore of understanding. Though we are loath to admit it, the boat, once our very important vehicle to understanding, now becomes and unnecessary burden. Yet we continue to carry it wherever we go. It is the first thing anyone sees, our worthy and admirable behavior often hidden.

This is a teaching I remember well because it is a lesson I continue to repeat. :lol:

Risky Thicket said:

One of my favorite teachings is of religion being a boat. Of course I'll butcher the retelling of this teaching so please, if you know it, jump in. The Buddha said that religion was like a boat that we use to carry us from the shore of ignorance to the shore of understanding. Upon reaching the shore of understanding many of us become attached to the boat (religion) that took us there and thus we spend a great amount of our time carrying a boat on our shoulders long after we reach the shore of understanding. We cannot let go because it served us well. It is not however something we need to carry around on our shoulders once we've reached the shore of understanding. Though we are loath to admit it, the boat, once our very important vehicle to understanding, now becomes and unnecessary burden. Yet we continue to carry it wherever we go. It is the first thing anyone sees, our worthy and admirable behavior often hidden.

This is a teaching I remember well because it is a lesson I continue to repeat. :lol:

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Yes, I have heard that story. One clings to the attachment, the boat. It is very hard to cast away all clingings and cravings. I think one sometimes enters a comfort zone with certain objects and even ideas that are very hard to cast away. The boat was part of that comfort zone, but one also needs to realize that all things are impermanent.

It seems very odd that an ordained Buddhist monk would be preaching the antithesis of the mandatory precepts to do no harm to other beings and to speak no false words. I don't know what to make of it. His ultimate karma may be quite shocking.

While most Jews, Christians, and Muslims are indeed peaceful people, it is certainly easy to see how someone can twist those religions to a more violent end. I just don’t see how you could pull that off with Buddhism. I guess anything is possible.