Together We Go, on the Path of Bodhisattava

Coming from eleven lands are representative or recommended young Buddhists from our members and friends to INEB’s Youth Program “The 2004 International Buddhist Leadership Training for Spiritual Resurgence and Social Innovation” in Siam. The training was in its second year after the experiment training in November 2003.

The twenty six young monks, lay men and women in the training are from HIKMAHBUDHI (The Union of Indonesian Buddhist Students), Dhammavedi Inst. in Sri Lanka, Parpatya Bouddha Mission in Bangladesh, PADETC in Laos, Dhammayietra Center in Cambodia, SEM Yangoon in Burma, in addition to those from Bhutan, Tibet in exile and Dalit communities in India, Nepal, etc.

For twenty days together from 11-30 July 2004, INEB provided them a chance to explore The Buddha’s teaching that is helpful for their individual spiritual growth and the work within their context.

Challenge of Our Times

It is a surprise for some participants to learn that, there are so many things that post challenges to Asian traditional lifestyles and cultures in the modern time. Globalization and ecological problems seems remote for some participants. However, after getting more information from various resource persons on repercussions of the two upon the poor countries such as ours, they are just next around the corner.

In many societies in Asia, democracy, self determination and human rights are threatened for a long times. People have no rights and freedom to choose the course of development even though their livelihood is at stake by the development pattern imposed on them. We invited resource persons to give us a clear picture of people’s struggle in politics and policymaking as well as in human rights situation in Asia.

Looking at our Buddhism, we learnt that Buddhism is contaminated by consumerism and commercialization. We are separated into different sects, making understanding and cooperation among Buddhists a challenging task of the young generation. On top of that, role of Buddhist women, ordained and lay are equally recognized. Going without them only cripples our effort to maintain teachings of the Buddha.
As today, we are in the multi-religious communities, we also need to understand essence of our neighbor’s faith so that we can cultivate our respect and avoid unnecessary conflicts. The talks from Muslim and Christian resource persons about their perspective on development make us find something common. Respect of peace and human dignity is at the heart of all the three religions.

There are two topic that are difficult but necessary. One is on Buddhist economics. It provides us some guidelines for a Buddhist to understand the current economic theories that are destructive and autistic. Another one is Principle and experience of socially engaged Buddhism by Sulak Sivaraksa, We kept his input to contemplate along the training.

Pema from Bhutan told us that her country fixes an eye on Siam as one of the development pattern. It therefore, frightened her very much to realize that here a lot of problem has been arising as a result of mainstream development. Phonexay and his friends from Laos gathered around the resource person at the end of ecological crisis class to learn more about dams building projects along rivers in his country.

Initiatives from Communities

After a heavy week of lectures and reflection, we set out a journey to observe initiatives from various communities on development effort. The places we visited exemplified and visualized what we have learnt. Within three day we learnt from Holistic Health foundation, Pathom Asoke Buddhist alternative community, Education center for poor children run by Dhammanurak Nunnery, HIV/AIDS hospice at Phra Bat Namphu Temple, alternative energy program, integrated farming and reforestation projects. Some are based on Buddhist teaching, some are run by Buddhist practitioners and some have nothing to do with any religion at all.

Back to Buddhist Values

Everyone is in a situation that a chemical tank exploded, we all became blind and our school is on fire. We needed to evacuate from school soonest, altogether, to get on a helicopter landing far away to escape. Understand? Yes. We started to cover our eyes with a piece of cloth and discussed a plan in a very noisy and chaotic manner.

No, we are not playing, but learning through experiential basis. After much effort, trial and error, getting out of way, shouting, frustrating, angry, etc. we managed to get to the place. This is among many ways that we learnt about leadership, planning, cooperation, creativity and communication. After that we picked up Buddhist teachings that related to the issues to discuss. Participants find for themselves what a Buddhist should observe to become a leader who brings about development in his/her context that reflects Buddhist values such as compassion, equality and non-violence. Pracha Hutanuwatr made our learning filled with games and laughter.

Transformation of Self

Together with theoretical knowledge of Buddhism that we learnt, plenty of time is allocated for meditation; early morning, qi gong session, mid day and evening. Meditation is a powerful tool of learning to know our mind. It is one of the three mode of learning or Tri Sikkha. Without self awareness, we can be defiled by akusalamula, and become violent and cheating. Also, the inner violent structure of akusalamula will maintain outside structural violence such as poverty, human rights violation, war and conflicts and so on.

Fun and recreation

It is our expertise that, despite a long day of hard work, we still found time to have fun, make some jokes and spread some (creative) gossip. The atmosphere is very much friendly. We became good friend and help one another in catching up with lessons since our knowledge are unequal. We got to know stories of exotic countries and live stories of friends. In cultural night, Tenzin from Tibet helped a Nepalese friend Riku to make “momo” and other Indian/Himalayan dishes for dinner. Games are under care of Jimmy from Indonesia and Nounou from Laos. Music and chitchat became one of success factors of this training!

Action plans

Before departing, we discussed seriously what we could do together. Four points arose. Some we can do straightaway. Some we need more study. Details are:

Mailing list
To create a discussion circle among participants on both social work and personal communication
People in charge: Priyadarshi Telang (Indian) and Sumit Punnakari (Thai)
Progress: INEB Dhammavijaya e-group is already set up.

Research group
To study in details the issues discussed/raised throughout the training.
Group member: Jimmy Lominto (Indonesian), The Ven. Pannaloka (Sri Lanka), Prashant Varma (India) and Priyadarshi Telang (Indian) and Pracha Hutanuwatr (Thai)
Progress: planning a discussion group and preparing for a dialogue on alternative politics next year

Chamnab’s plan
Education center for prisoners and evening school for poor villagers in Battambong, Cambodia
Support promised: books from The Ven. Pannaloka (Sri Lanka). Connection with Lotus Outreach program for prisoners by Prachant Varma (India)
Progress: see next section

Young Buddhist Volunteer Service
Progress: only need and offer related to volunteer work is discussed. To materialize still requires a lot of study and planning

The evaluation gave tremendous encouragement to INEB. We are determined to provide learning space for young Buddhists as a long-term program. We would love to see our alumni be able to lessen suffering both within oneself and in their communities. We hope to make available a path toward Bodhisattava for the next generation of Buddhists in Asia

Lapapan Supamanta

International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact Person: MS. Lapapan Supamanta
666 Charoen Nakorn Road, Klong San, Bangkok 10600 Siam (Thailand)
tel 662-860-2194 fax 662-860-1277

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