Ten Thousand Things
Multicultural Webfinds

"Ten Thousand Things" is a Buddhist expression representing the dynamic interconnection and simultaneous unity and diversity of everything in the universe.

STAND WITH BURMESE MARCHERS – AVAAZ Petition & Buddhist Peace Fellowship Action

"After decades of military dictatorship, the people of Burma are rising – and they need our help. Marches begun by monks and nuns have snowballed, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets. Now the crackdown has begun..."

This is an international conflict, with the governments of China, Russia, and India long supporting the illegitimate military junta against the majority of Burmese people. The Chinese and Russian governments (repressive police states themselves) recently blocked U.S. and European efforts in the United Nations Security Council to condemn the military junta's violent suppression and killings of protesters.

While mildly condemning past repression, the Japanese government has also maintained "cordial relations" with the military government, and said it would continue to monetarily support the junta through humanitarian aid and technology transfers, despite video evidence of a soldier deliberately killing APF News journalist Kenji Nagai at close range.

The AVAAZ.ORG petition is one way to stand in solidarity with the Burmese people:

"When the Burmese last marched in 1988, the military massacred thousands. But if the world stands up and supports their struggle, this time they could succeed. We'll send our petition to United Nations Security Council members (including the dictatorship's main backer China) and to media at the UN, while also alerting the Burmese to our support:

"To Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council:
"We stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators, and to support genuine reconciliation and democracy in Burma. We pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed."

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship coordinated vigils in twenty cities worldwide this past weekend, in ongoing support and solidarity with all people in Burma. Their site has links to information, more petitions, and calls to action:

"This is an historical moment of opportunity and danger in Burma. The function of a movement here and in Asia is to show the world, the activists in Burma, and the junta that people everywhere are watching and supporting a movement of democracy and human rights that ultimately will succeed. We can also be allies to monks and citizens of Burma by bringing pressure on China, Russia, and India, and maintaining support for U.S. efforts."

... May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as parents protect with their lives
Their children,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will...

-- From the Metta Sutra on Loving Kindness to All Living Things

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