Tuesday, April 2, 2013

What Would the Buddha Say?

Those who think that the phrase "church militant" applies only to Christianity would do well to examine a report from Sri Lanka that showed up this morning on Al Jazeera English, based on their wire sources. Everything is summarized in the opening paragraphs:
Sri Lanka's police have arrested three Buddhist monks over the destruction of a Muslim-owned clothing store that has heightened religious tensions in the country, according to an official. 
Police superintendent Buddhika Siriwardena said the monks were detained on Monday, four days after a mob of Sinhalese-Buddhist men vandalised and torched a section of the three-storey building in the Pepiliyana suburb of Colombo. 
"Three monks were arrested after they surrendered," police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena told AFP news agency. "They will be taken before a magistrate tomorrow (Tuesday). We are looking for more suspects." 
Officials said the monks were among 17 held in connection with Thursday's attack which the main Muslim party in the ruling coalition said was a "sequel" to an on-going hate campaign against Muslims and other religious minorities.
This should remind everyone that there is far more to Buddhism than the meditative quietude of Zen!

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