Saturday, November 25, 2006
Trying times
The Buddha said :
He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me. Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
- Dhammapada verse 4
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
- Dhammapada verse 5
This year is indeed a year of turmoil in our much loved country. Not that everyone start rioting and carry out ethnic cleansing (i hope this won't happen!), but it seems to me that a number of city council authorities are fueling racial mistrust and hatred by destroying non-Muslim places of worship and religious objects.
In this year alone, Malaysia have seen many Hindu and Chinese temples demolished. Ok, the council claims these places are built on government land and are built illegally, and have to make way for government projects. Fine, we'll move, no big deal! When it comes to demolition, the council should let the devotees clear the premise of their sacred objects before demolition operation.But many non-Muslims question why must the religious objects be desacreted by being beaten and hacked into pieces when demolishing these so-called illegal structures? Have they no respect for other religions? The act of Taliban blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas should not be their reference when asked to justify their act!
The latest incident involves a temple in Penang, the Tao Bu Keong.
Much have been blogged, much have been said.
A harmonious Malaysia, I believe, has a very long way to go unless those people up there (the authorities, most are religious zealots!)are replaced with moderate understanding people.
Meanwhile people, we do our part, remember and practise the above verses of the Dhammapada. That's a piece of timeless wisdom that has liberated us Buddhists from much unnecessary violence & war... unlike some people...
He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me. Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
- Dhammapada verse 4
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
- Dhammapada verse 5
This year is indeed a year of turmoil in our much loved country. Not that everyone start rioting and carry out ethnic cleansing (i hope this won't happen!), but it seems to me that a number of city council authorities are fueling racial mistrust and hatred by destroying non-Muslim places of worship and religious objects.
In this year alone, Malaysia have seen many Hindu and Chinese temples demolished. Ok, the council claims these places are built on government land and are built illegally, and have to make way for government projects. Fine, we'll move, no big deal! When it comes to demolition, the council should let the devotees clear the premise of their sacred objects before demolition operation.But many non-Muslims question why must the religious objects be desacreted by being beaten and hacked into pieces when demolishing these so-called illegal structures? Have they no respect for other religions? The act of Taliban blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas should not be their reference when asked to justify their act!
The latest incident involves a temple in Penang, the Tao Bu Keong.
Much have been blogged, much have been said.
A harmonious Malaysia, I believe, has a very long way to go unless those people up there (the authorities, most are religious zealots!)are replaced with moderate understanding people.
Meanwhile people, we do our part, remember and practise the above verses of the Dhammapada. That's a piece of timeless wisdom that has liberated us Buddhists from much unnecessary violence & war... unlike some people...
