Rev. Danny Fisher

Via The Interdependent:

Visit http://www.thefreedomcampaign.org.

The author with Ananda W.P. Guruge.
Commencement exercises for the class of 2009 took place at our fair campus today. Though a few of my colleagues and I had a busy morning finishing the two-day interview of prospective students for the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy program that I currently direct, we all wrapped up in time to join the rest of the faculty, staff, and students in the auditorium at 2 p.m.

The high point for me came when my friend and Pāḷi mentor Ananda W.P. Guruge was officially designated UWest’s first emeritus professor and then gave a heartfelt commencement address. His comments brought his long career at our illustrious institution to something nearing a close: an unstoppable force for education, he’s still going to teach part-time.

Dr. Guruge’s most memorable comment came when he reflected on his wisdom accrued during a life of service in six different jobs:

The purpose of life is to serve your fellow human beings to the best of your ability for as long as you can.

Among those who came to join UWest in sending off one of its most devoted employees was the Venerable Walpola Piyananda Nayaka Thero, who was my preceptor when I was ordained as a Buddhist minister by the ecumenical Buddhist Sangha Council of Southern California. (The two of us are pictured below.) Bhante Piyananda, who is the Chief Sanghanayake of the U.S.A., is also the author of two wonderful memoirs: Saffron Days in L.A. and The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A. As we were catching up, Bhante told me that he just finished another manuscript on a very exciting topic (which you’ll find out about soon). He also paid me a very nice compliment about the blog that made my whole day.

I must say: I feel pretty lucky to know all these remarkably brilliant and kind people. It’s a good life.

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship‘s Hozan Alan Senauke and Zenju Earthlyn Manuel both offer reflections and suggestions for action regarding Aung San Suu Kyi at the organization’s official website. Manuel, the BPF’s executive director, writes:

While the world watches the 63-year-old goes on trial on Monday, May 18th, on the charges, which carry a jail term of up to five years and would stretch her detention past its supposed expiry date on May 27th and through controversial elections due in 2010.

Suu Kyi is not only an icon of freedom for the Burmese people, but also a symbol of the ideals of peace and liberty inked into the pages of the American constitution whether practiced on this land or not. For that reason many of us in this country can clearly see our place in advocating for Suu Kyi’s passage through the locked gates.

[...]

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship uses its freedom to support the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi. The freedom of Burma and many other countries is a long haul in which we must carry the perpetual fire of wisdom and take action with our voices. Let’s not be silent about any acts of dehumanization in the world.

The Associated Press noted today that the Norwegian Nobel Committee “rarely comments on past laureates.” They have, however, issued a new statement about the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee protests strongly against the way in which the government of Myanmar (Burma) has treated Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate of 1991. Her recent detention in prison is totally unacceptable. She has done nothing wrong. The government’s treatment of her is contrary to international rules and norms. We urge that she and other political prisoners be immediately and unconditionally released. Free elections should be held as soon as possible.

In the general election in 1990 Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy triumphed. The results were, however, nullified and the military refused to hand over power. No free elections have since been held. For years Aung San Suu Kyi has lived under house arrest. The unacceptable treatment of her has to come to an immediate end.

Recent reports about Aung San Suu Kyi’s health are of great concern. We demand that she be given the necessary medical assistance without delay.

Thobjorn Jagland
Chairman, The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Oslo, May 15,2009

This from Not On Our Watch:

Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi to be their next leader. And for most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that now runs the country. She is the world’s only incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Yesterday Suu Kyi was taken to Burma’s Insein prison to face criminal charges as part of a concerted plan to deny her freedom.

We must not stand by as she is silenced once again. Now is the time for the United Nations and the entire international community to speak clearly, and with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.

In support,

George Clooney
Sec. Madeleine Albright
Wes Anderson
Bono
Matthew Broderick
Sandra Bullock
James Carville
Michael Chabon
Anderson Cooper
Daniel Craig
John Cusack
Matt Damon
Robert De Niro
Dave Eggers
Jake Gyllenhaal
Václav Havel
Helen Hunt
Anjelica Huston
Scarlett Johansson
Nicole Kidman
Ashton Kutcher
Norman Lear
Madonna
Mary Matalin
Sen. John & Cindy McCain
Rose McGowan
Orhan Pamuk
Sarah Jessica Parker
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Brad Pitt
Julia Roberts
Robert Rodriguez
Salman Rushdie
Meg Ryan
Liev Schreiber
George Soros
Steven Spielberg
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Naomi Watts
Prof. Elie Wiesel
Owen Wilson

[Photo by the Agence France-Presse.]