Commentary: Self-Immolation and Buddhism

[ellisonz]

SELF-IMMOLATION AND BUDDHISM
Phayul - [Thursday, January 05, 2012 17:05]
By Jamyang Norbu

The Yiddish word “chutzpah”, pronounced “huspa”, has the exact same meaning as the Tibetan word “hamba”, and even shares a passing tonal quality to it. Leo Rosten, the humorist, defined chutzpah as “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

Dai Qingli, an official of the Chinese Embassy in Britain brilliantly demonstrated that quality in a letter to the Guardian (25 Nov. 2011) titled “Tibetan Deaths violate Buddhism”. Dai wrote, “The self-immolations of Tibetan monks and nuns were truly tragic. They were also a fatal violation of the spirit of peace and tolerance that defines Tibetan Buddhism. And, as such, these acts have met anger and disapproval from the local people and the religious community.”

Bhuchung K.Tsering of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) expressed himself in a similar manner in his article “This Chinese is Right About Tibetan Self-Immolation!”

“Yesterday, i.e. December 1, 2011, I was reading an article in People’s Daily by “renowned Tibetologist” Li Decheng concerning self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet in which he says these actions are against “core Buddhist code of ethics.” He further says, “In Buddhism, particularly Tibetan Buddhism, scripture has never encouraged killings and suicide, nor has Buddhist dogma incited others to carry out killings or commit suicide.” I have no hesitation in saying I agree with him here.’

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=SELF-IMMOLATION+AND+BUDDHISM+%E2%80%93+by+Jamyang+Norbu&id=30644&t=1&c=4

Lengthy and well-reasoned look at the issue.

[bananas]

1. Good article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Quang_Duc#Intact_heart_and_symbolism

[WheelWalker]

7. +1

[grantcart]

2. Theravada Buddhism has no tradition of self immolation and the tremendous sacrifices of the Sangha

in both Cambodia and Burma have shown how great Monks will suffer and stay on their path.

In both cases things are begining to look up for a restoration of normalcy.

[marasinghe]

3. as a follower of Theravada Buddhism, i agree. however -- just as a matter of interest --

certain incidents of suicide amongst the direct disciples of The Buddha -- among them Bhikkus & even Arhats -- are described in the Suttas.

references from the "Western Buddhist Review":
http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com/vol4/suicide_as_a_response_to_suffering.html

once again -- to re-emphasize your statement -- The Buddha's doctrine, as detailed in the Suttas, is firmly opposed to the wilful destruction of any form of life, whether one's own, or another's.

[grantcart]

4. Very Interesting, and I look forward to reviewing your cited authority in depth

How did you come to follow Theravada Buddhism?

Are you familiar with Wat Metta?

[marasinghe]

5. hi Grantcart; cheers.

i am sorry; my visits to the West coast being few & far between - i wasn't familiar with Wat Metta, until i saw your query. i've looked it up on the web. it appears to be a wonderful place.

around here, on the East coast, a Monk from my native country, Sri Lanka, runs a somewhat similar meditation center near the Shenandoah Valley, in WV.
http://www.bhavanasociety.org/index/
His name is: the Venerable Henepola Gunaratana. i've met him &, in my estimation, he is a good monk & a good teacher. he has published several books, two of which, i personally think, are outstanding. 1. Mindfulness in Plain English (for beginners); and, 2. The Path of Serenity and Insight (for experienced meditators).

on your 2nd question: as mentioned, i am a native Sri Lankan. around 70% of the population there - nominally - practices Thereavada Buddhism. my own case was a slight anomaly. wa born a Catholic. my early teens, dove head-first into a typical, hormone-fuelled, rebel-without-a-cause adolescent maelstrom of meaningless angst. as a result of which, after some ratiocination & research into spiritual traditions, i found my own predilection lay in this (in my opinion) amazing teaching, that lay in plain sight, right in my backyard; and had once been followed by my own family (until some in the line were converted by Portuguese colonists). it was a bit of a shock to discover that - an ancient Ascetic, sitting half-starved under a tree in the Indian jungles, 2,500 years in the past, had come up with these concepts - which fit my own labored & half-baked theories, like a tailored glove. though i may very well be mistaken, i believe i've found many of the answers i've been looking for, in this Dhamma.

i would like, very much, to hear of your own journey onto this Path - if you don't mind sharing your experiences?

[grantcart]

6. Happy to share when I have more time

Well you would really like it. It is the only place I have gone to where there are Theravada Buddhists that aren't Thai, Lao or Cambodian.

They have Sri Lankan Buddhists there and the language used is English. The monks are American and the abbot lived in a Thai monestary for 20 years and is very sincere.