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Buddha Dhyana Dana Review
Editorial
One year has passed since the atrocity killing of many Americans occurred at the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. Those terrorists committing this crime do not repent for what they have done but Muslim professors have repented for this action. United States of America’s President George W. Bush has stepped up his pressure on the United Nations to back his tough stand to lead a coalition to hold Hussein to account and disarm Iraq.
USA Military Commanders are being warned a USA led attack on Iraq could be in by 28 November 2002.
If the new United Nations Resolution is accepted Mr Hussein will have seven days to accept its terms and another twenty-eight days to identify his weapons program.
If he fails to list a suspect site or declare a banned weapon and the United States Intelligence can provide the evidence, the United States of America will have a pretext to strike.
If it follows the war in Afghanistan pattern the United States of America might not be able to capture the chief of the nation Mr. Hussein personally.
It appears the United States of America do not repent for what they have done in polarising the Afghanistan nation with operations of war.
In the one year since the World Trade Centre atrocity major religious leaders of the world have been trying to prevent further operations of war.
This is generating newer inter-faith understanding and some Islamic religion pundits have held that operations of war and a mass killing do not appear to be within the domain of their scriptures. Such activities are not within the domain of Buddha Dhamma scriptures.
Historically, Islamic forces in India attacked Northern India and dissembled the last of the Buddha Dhamma religion remaining there a few centuries after the passing away of the Buddha who taught in that area. It appears most current Islamic spokespersons do not repent of this history.
The Victorian Arabic Social Services was established in 1981 as a group of workers that addressed the welfare needs of the Arabic community. VASS is an incorporated association with members from broad spectrum of occupations including community, welfare and social workers, counsellors, psychologists, teachers, health, employment, education and legal professionals, students and volunteers.
VASS is committed to serve the Arabic community by remaining non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, inclusive of all Arabic community groups. VASS’s work is underpinned by community development principles which aim to develop the citizenship status of the Arabic community through improved access to services, decision-making and civic participation.
Our Secretary has spoken with the Leila Alloush, Manager of VASS about their upcoming conference: Arab-Australians - Taking a Stand. This National Conference is sponsored by The Victorian Multicultural Commission on Australian-Arabic Communities’ Issues will be held in Abbotsford on 30 October 2002 to 1 November 2002. The closing date for call for papers is 13 September 2002.
This paper will be submitted and published for the Conference.
For more information on this conference please visit the Victorian Arabic Social Services website at http://www.vass.org.au
There is a clear differentiation between those who commit a fault and those who do not in terms of regret.
The Arabhati Sutta of the Tikandaki Vagga of the Pancamaka Nipata of the Anguttara Nikaya (III, 165-7) mentions five kinds of people :
(1)those who commit a fault and repent of the fact but do nothing good, and do not know the emancipation through wisdom by which all inflows (asava) are destroyed without a remainder ;
(2)those who commit a fault but do not repent of what they have done or not done, and who do not know emancipation ;
(3)those who do not commit a fault, but repent of what they have not done, and who do not know emancipation ;
(4)those who do not commit a fault nor repent of what they have not done, and do not know emancipation ; and
(5)those who do not commit a fault nor repent of what they have not done, and know emancipation.
A true follower of the Buddha should try to be like people of the fifth group.
The battle that is about to arise is to be fought between those whose faith is non-Buddhist.
Perhaps, it is time compassionate followers of Buddha Dhamma devoted more of their time and effort in explaining to non-believers what the above mentioned Buddha Dhamma Sutta view states about the matter.
In the meanwhile, let us hope the war be of short duration and the peace be long duration.
May the present balance of war operations and peaceful lifestyles change in favour of peaceful lifestyles.
John D. Hughes
Dip. App.Chem., T.T.T. C., GDAIE,
Editor
Buddha Dhyana Dana Review
References
Malalasekera, G. P. (1966) Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Government of Ceylon, Government Press, Ceylon, p 39.
The Australian, newspaper, Monday, 30 September 2002.
Victorian Arabic Social Services website (2002) available at http://www.vass.org.au accessed on 30 September 2002.