From: wong@rkna50.riken.go.jp (Wong Weng Fai)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Cambodian Buddhism 2
Date: 29 Dec 92 01:09:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.47835
Distribution: world
Organization: ----

Hi,
	Some time ago I translated a newspaper article on Buddhism in 
Cambodia. It seens that it is actually a series. Yesterday (28 Dec '92) 
another on the same theme appeared. Again, I have translated it. 
Again, I am solely responsible for any mistranslation. Again, the 
names of people and places are merely approximates.

with Metta,

W.F. Wong.

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		Rebuilding the Peace - "The Walk of Dhamma"
		-------------------------------------------
		Mainichi Shimbun Monday 28 Dec '92 pg 3
		    (Reporter : Hiroshi Nagai)

	The dry season was nearing its end. This April temperatures 
soared over the 40 degree Celsius. From the village of Arannayaput in 
the Thai border, a group of Cambodian monks started their journey for 
Phnom Penn. 
	On the way, they preached the teachings of the Buddha, 
emphasized the importance of peace and sprinkled holy water to 
wash the hearts wounded by the disasters of war. As they advanced, 
they were joined by other refugees. Along the way, many were able to 
meet family members separated for many an unforeseen years.
	30 days after they started off, the group reached Phnom Penn. 
By then it had swelled to over 100 monks joined by several hundred 
lay followers. The group stretched well over 1 km.
	What was named "The Walk of Dhamma" was lead by Ven. 
Kosanada. In Tamei temple in the state Kandaru, I sat face to 
face with this 63 year old monk who was cladded in a yellow robe. 
Amidst his incessant gentle smile, he answered my direct questions.

	Why was a Buddhist country like Cambodia involved in such a 
long war ?
	"This is because (the people) lost to Mara. Already impure at 
heart, the involved parties' greed for power were aroused. This lead 
them to be made used of by foreign powers."
	Why did the Pol Pot party oppress Buddhism ?
	"They were opposed to Buddhism's teaching about karma. In 
this world there are the rich and the poor, the beautiful and the ugly. 
You are a journalist, I am a monk - we are different. Buddhism, as it 
starting point, admits this difference. The Pol Pot party, in its attempt 
to establish an equal society,thought that this was a major obstacle to
social reconstruction. But this is a misunderstanding about Buddhism."
	"Humans can't undo the past, neither can we control the future. 
But with love, we can make good use of this very moment that we 
have, the future will probably turn out for the better. This is because 
"now" is the mother of "future". We believe an equal and peaceful 
society can be built out of wisdom and compassion. Pol Pot believe 
they must do so by killing."
	In other words, this tragedy was inevitable because the people 
did not understand the true message of the Buddha ...
	"That's right. The reconciliation of the people and the peaceful 
rebuilding of the country will have to be based on the Dhamma. This 
"Walk of the Dhamma" is the first step."
	Ven. Kosanada, who spoke of the peaceful reconstruction of 
the country with the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism, also 
preached that the Pol Pot should too be treated with love and should 
not be discriminated against. He showed me a paragraph in "Step by 
Step", a book he recently wrote in English, in which he wrote
	"Revenge and hatred can only bring more (hatred). There will be no end
to this. Reconciliation does not mean that we should give up our rights 
and conditions. It means coming forth with love. With wisdom and 
compassion as our pair of feet, we must move forward step by step."
	Great tragedies are the bleeding grounds for the seeds of wisdom and
compassion. Therefore, Ven. Kosanada said, a country like Cambodia that 
had gone through such deep sufferings will therefore be a fertile ground for 
peace. Shouldn't this message be made known to the rest of the world 
too ?
	Ven. Kosanada said, "This "Walk of Dhamma" is for anyone, 
you for example, anytime, anywhere, anyone can start it."

Ven. Kosanada
------------------
Borned in a farming village in the state of Takeo. Entered the Sangha 
at 14. Graduated from a Buddhist university in Phnom Penn and went 
to India to further his studies. During the Pol Pot era, he once thought 
of practicing in the jungles of southern Thailand. However, with the 
flood of refugees to the Thai border, he became a spiritual foundation 
for his fellow Cambodian at the border and overseas. Now although he 
is resident monk at the Rataram Temple at his home state, for the sake 
of rebuilding Buddhism, he is busy travelling throughout the country. 
He holds the title of "somteja" - "Most Venerable".