Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Buddhism and The Bombings in Bangkok
JohnC.Kimbrough
Explorer
Buddhism and The Bombings in Bangkok
In the close to twenty years that this writer has resided in Bangkok, Thailand, it has always been a source of bemusement and at times confusing perceptions to see a country and culture that likes to think of itself as being both modern and one that understands the Buddhist teachings to be one that is wracked by so much violence, ill – will and ignorance.
This is not meant to be a criticism of Thailand or its culture and people, who like people in all cultures and countries of the world wish to go about their daily tasks, errands and activities with a degree of focus, ease and pleasure.
In fact, life in the modern Thailand can be quite stressful as people spend a lot of time, energy and money in trying to look good, keep up with their neighbors, and buy the latest gadget and sensual enticement that has caught their eye.
Living in such a materialistic environment, with its emphasis on greed, face, status and wealth is bound to create all sorts of problems.
With this in mind, the recent bombings in Bangkok came as no surprise, as bombings and other subtle and overt forms of intimidation have always been a part of both Asian and Thai culture.
Was there anything good that came out of this?
On the surface, one would say, how could there be, but anything that makes us more mindful, whether it is in a positive or negative way, can be a source of potential strength and wisdom.
What makes individuals do such a thing that would kill and harm their own countrymen?
What do they think and feel when their actions result in the death and injury of innocent people?
Will they be satisfied with the mayhem they have already caused or be motivated to do such a thing in the future?
Of course, the bombings gave all sorts of people an excuse to do other things that show a lack of mindfulness and wisdom. People started calling up bomb hoaxes against their competition in business or about a school that they did not want to attend for the day.
Buddhism looks at such things as being both foolish and unskillful.
We can live together if we know how to live in a simple manner, instead of thinking that we have to have this or that, or need to do this in order to think of ourselves as being the equal or better then others.
The mind is not our friend when it acts in such a way.
Buddhism teaches and reminds us that all individuals have to deal with thoughts and feelings that create suffering, and greed and ill – will are two of the mental and behavioral states that lead to the greatest amount of suffering for both individuals and the world as a whole.
In doing bombings in Bangkok, Madrid, London or another country or place in the world, we accomplish little except to kill and hurt innocent people, while at the same time fostering greed, ill –will, anger and confusion among those who continue to live and seek pleasure and happiness through skilful and unskillful ways each day.
©2007 John C. Kimbrough
John is a volunteer teaching Yoga and Buddhism and providing other health and educational resources for men and women in a local provincial prison in Cambodia. He has lived in Asia for twenty years
In the close to twenty years that this writer has resided in Bangkok, Thailand, it has always been a source of bemusement and at times confusing perceptions to see a country and culture that likes to think of itself as being both modern and one that understands the Buddhist teachings to be one that is wracked by so much violence, ill – will and ignorance.
This is not meant to be a criticism of Thailand or its culture and people, who like people in all cultures and countries of the world wish to go about their daily tasks, errands and activities with a degree of focus, ease and pleasure.
In fact, life in the modern Thailand can be quite stressful as people spend a lot of time, energy and money in trying to look good, keep up with their neighbors, and buy the latest gadget and sensual enticement that has caught their eye.
Living in such a materialistic environment, with its emphasis on greed, face, status and wealth is bound to create all sorts of problems.
With this in mind, the recent bombings in Bangkok came as no surprise, as bombings and other subtle and overt forms of intimidation have always been a part of both Asian and Thai culture.
Was there anything good that came out of this?
On the surface, one would say, how could there be, but anything that makes us more mindful, whether it is in a positive or negative way, can be a source of potential strength and wisdom.
What makes individuals do such a thing that would kill and harm their own countrymen?
What do they think and feel when their actions result in the death and injury of innocent people?
Will they be satisfied with the mayhem they have already caused or be motivated to do such a thing in the future?
Of course, the bombings gave all sorts of people an excuse to do other things that show a lack of mindfulness and wisdom. People started calling up bomb hoaxes against their competition in business or about a school that they did not want to attend for the day.
Buddhism looks at such things as being both foolish and unskillful.
We can live together if we know how to live in a simple manner, instead of thinking that we have to have this or that, or need to do this in order to think of ourselves as being the equal or better then others.
The mind is not our friend when it acts in such a way.
Buddhism teaches and reminds us that all individuals have to deal with thoughts and feelings that create suffering, and greed and ill – will are two of the mental and behavioral states that lead to the greatest amount of suffering for both individuals and the world as a whole.
In doing bombings in Bangkok, Madrid, London or another country or place in the world, we accomplish little except to kill and hurt innocent people, while at the same time fostering greed, ill –will, anger and confusion among those who continue to live and seek pleasure and happiness through skilful and unskillful ways each day.
©2007 John C. Kimbrough
John is a volunteer teaching Yoga and Buddhism and providing other health and educational resources for men and women in a local provincial prison in Cambodia. He has lived in Asia for twenty years
0
Comments
At first sight this looks wrong, but it reminds me of what my teacher often said, that we are ALL responsible for the mad acts of a few. Where were we when others were hurting or hungry or freezing? And how many times have others reached out to us and we have withheld any semblance of charity or fellow-feeling?
Yet, it's remarkable how much we human beings can detach ourselves from bad things we do and not let the full horror enter into us, using idealogies or religion ("being right" or being "righteous") to insulate us from our fellow human beings. When "our" actions result in the death and injury of innocent people, it's "collateral damage." Only years later, after getting off this crazy rollercoaster and starting to become reflective human beings, would real anguish and remorse be allowed in. It's sad, but the world is quite simply an insane place.
I think that's a large part of what the Buddha taught.
what puzzles is me, is how ppl can be so deluded as to think that bombing actually helps further their cause..
Isn't just the idea of causing trouble for those who are not "in the right" (as they think they are) furthering the cause of stirring up trouble for those "in the wrong?" ([As they incorrectly assess things...])
The letterbombers in Britain right now seem to be sending a message to motorists or non animal-rights advocates. Is this advertising of sorts? The fact that all this seems very wrong and sinful to an objective observer probably never enters their minds.
Palzang
Palzang
I can't quite figure out what you're talking about.
Whom are you planning on Love-Bombing now, dear?
I have been involved with my work in Cambodia.
Violence has long been a common phenomenon in lands and countries where Buddhism is a major part of the cultural environment (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar).
The study and practice of Buddhism takes time, effort, energy and a commitment.
Changing and bringing about a development of the mind and consciousness in countries and cultures where status and face are all important and Buddhism is thought of and practiced as more of a ritual and to get rerwards in this and future lives is not an easy to task.
Some might think it is impossible........
Greed for money, influence, fame and power is not a way to happiness....
Projects in Cambodia – March 1rst, 2007
This writer has just finished another thirty - day
period of doing volunteer work in Cambodia as an
independent volunteer. The purpose of this posting is
to give interested parties a status report on that
work and how it is progressing.
• Yoga and Buddhist classes in the local provincial
prison – The daily teaching during the weekdays of
Yoga and Buddhism in the prison has brought me closer
and closer to the men in the prison and what their
material, educational and health needs are. In
addition to teaching Yoga and Buddhism, we are also
trying to, in whatever little way possible, to meet
their educational and health needs. This includes
providing them with whiteboards, whiteboard markers,
pens, notebooks, English language course books, cream
to deal with skin problems, mats for sleeping on,
toilet paper and talcum powder.
An itemized list of the things that we need to
purchase for the men for the year 2007 is available as
an attachment or upon request, as are remittance
instructions for those who wish to make donations for
this work.
• English language teaching – We continue to provide
free instruction and assistance to those learners who
wish to improve their English language ability. This
is done through one on one teaching and learning,
short special courses to small classes and formal and
informal classes for small groups of Khmer learners in
their homes or at local schools.
• English language teacher training – We continue to
provide information, advice and training on an
informal basis to those Khmer individuals who wish to
become English language teachers in the future. This
is done in small classes that are done at English
language centers in the area and in teaching these
classes, we also provide handouts and other material
for the participants to take away and study on their
own.
This writer recently gave six (6) presentations on how
to become a more effective and efficient teacher of
English at an international conference of English
language teachers in Phnom Phem which allowed him to
meet and network with other teachers and language
centers in Cambodia.
Our short and long - term objectives at present are:
• To continue to teach Yoga and Buddhism to the
prisoners in the local prison while at the same time
making an effort to provide resources to assist in the
education and health of the men and women living
there.
• To continue to work to networking with organizations
and people that do similar work in assisting the Khmer
people.
• To continue to be of assistance to the English
language teaching and learning community in Cambodia
in whatever way possible.
We continue to be in need of donations in order to
continue with our work and build on it in a positive
and evolving manner. If you wish to make a donation,
please look over the remittance instructions which
have been attached or are available upon request.
Thank you once again for your attention and interest
in this work.