Because We Are Buddhists

Delivered by Ashin Uttama under the auspices of the Minorities Right, in front of the Alawiya Mosque, Bihar, India.

There are those who ask us why we march with the Muslims. Why do we raise the Islamic flag? Why do we support the Muslim cause?

“You are Buddhists!” they tell us. What are you doing?

And our response, which I’d like to share with you this afternoon, is very simple.



IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE BUDDHISTS THAT WE MARCH WITH THE MUSLIMS AND RAISE THEIR FLAG!

IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE BUDDHISTSS THAT WE DEMAND THAT THE MUSLIM PEOPLES BE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTIES!

In our Dhamma we are taught, that we are forbidden to have Buddhist Nationalist State, even if all the nations including the Minorities living in mainly Buddhist countries, would agree to give it to us. Yes, in our Dhamma we are taught that we have to respect lives and we are forbidden to kill and loot other people. The Dhamma clearly states that Buddha foreswore us with three oaths; one, that we are not to go up to destroy lives. Two, that we are forbidden to take up arms against any nation. Three, we should not attempt to take other people properties by any means. We are to wait patiently the appearence Mittaya Buddha (In Christian traditions Second comming of Christ, in Muslim traditions comming of Imam Mehdhi). At that time, He Himself, without any human intervention will bring the Truth. At that time all the nations will recognize the one G-D and will serve Him together peacefully.

Secondly, we are commanded to be good and compassionate. Of course we are forbidden to steal, kill, etc. Yes, in our Dhamma we are commanded to be fair. We are called upon to pursue justice. And, what could be more unjust then the century old attempt of the so called Buddhists Nationalists movement to invade an other people’s land, to drive them out and steal their property?
Palestine was a land with a people. A people that were developing a national consciousness.

We have no doubt that would Buddhists, have come to Muslims, not with the intention of dominating, not with the intention of making a Buddhist state, not with the intention of dispossessing, not with the intention of depriving the Muslims of their basic rights, that they (Buddhists) would have been welcomed by the Muslims, with the same hospitality that Islamic peoples have shown Buddhists throughout history. And we would have lived together as Buddhists and Muslims lived before in Burma in peace and harmony.

To our Islamic and Muslim friends around the world, please hear our message --
There are Buddhists around the world who support your cause. And when we support your cause we do not mean partion of Buddhists and Muslim communities but to live together as relatives and friends.

We do not mean anything other than returning the entire lands, properties and rights unjustly taken away from you.

This is the only path to true reconciliation.

But we demand yet more. We demand, that in returning the lawful rights back to its rightful owners, we have not yet done enough. There should be an apology to the Muslim people which is clear and precise. Nationalist government did you wrong. Nationalist government stole your homes.

By so proclaiming we proclaim before the world that we are the people of the Dhamma, that our faith demands that we be honest and fair and good and kind.

We have attended hundreds of pro Muslim rallies over the years and everywhere we go the leaders and audience greet us with the warmth of Muslim hospitality. What a lie it is to say that Muslims in general don't like non Muslims. You hate injustice. Not non muslims. We all have to know how to differentiate between real Muslims and heretic Wahabi Terrorists.

Fear not my friends. Evil cannot long triumph. The Wahabi nightmare is at its end. It is exhausted. Its latest brutalities are the death rattle of the terminally ill. All people in the world will see the love, wisdom, philosophy and humanity of Great religion of Islam and Muslim people.

We will yet both live to see the day when Buddhists and Muslims will embrace in peace under the Mettaya/Mehdhi flag in the World.

And ultimately when mankind’s Redeemer (Mettaya Buddha or Imam Mehdhi) will come, the sufferings will gone for ever.