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Prayers for Bat Nha

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:21

“If we want to end the war in the world, we need to end the war in our own hearts.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhzZdwfGQk8&feature=player_embedded

I made this short film in support of Thich Nhat Hanh, and his sangha in Vietnam, who are in crisis right now. Please support them, and share this video widely. Thich Nhat Hanh's monks and nuns of Bat Nha Monastery are facing religious persecution in Vietnam right now, from the communist government. Threatened by the rising popularity of Thich Nhat Hanh's form of engaged Buddhism in the country, the state has cracked down. The monks and nuns have been evicted from their monastery, and are now living as refugee's in the city of Bao Loc, in a small temple. Please support them!

To learn more, visit: http://www.helpbatnha.org

From the Abbot of Deer Park Monastery:

OBAMA ON RECEIVING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Fri, 10/09/2009 - 17:44

This just came into my inbox from Obama:

Velcrow --

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

MICHAEL MOORE ON OBAMA'S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Fri, 10/09/2009 - 16:41

Congratulations President Obama on the Nobel Peace Prize -- Now Please Earn it!

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Dear President Obama,

How outstanding that you've been recognized today as a man of peace. Your swift, early pronouncements -- you will close Guantanamo, you will bring the troops home from Iraq, you want a nuclear weapon-free world, you admitted to the Iranians that we overthrew their democratically-elected president in 1953, you made that great speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, you've eliminated that useless term "The War on Terror," you've put an end to torture -- these have all made us and the rest of the world feel a bit more safe considering the disaster of the past eight years. In eight months you have done an about face and taken this country in a much more sane direction.

But...

The irony that you have been awarded this prize on the 2nd day of the ninth year of our War in Afghanistan is not lost on anyone. You are truly at a crossroads now. You can listen to the generals and expand the war (only to result in a far-too-predictable defeat) or you can declare Bush's Wars over, and bring all the troops home. Now. That's what a true man of peace would do.

There is nothing wrong with you doing what the last guy failed to do -- capture the man or men responsible for the mass murder of 3,000 people on 9/11. BUT YOU CANNOT DO THAT WITH TANKS AND TROOPS. You are pursuing a criminal, not an army. You do not use a stick of dynamite to get rid of a mouse.

ON THE ROAD WITH FIERCE LIGHT

Tue, 10/06/2009 - 18:40

Well it's been an exciting year of travelling around the world, helping Fierce Light shine. The responses have been so tremendous, and moving. Every audience is different, but again and again people are deeply moved by the film. Last weekend I was in Charleston, at the Sophia Institute. On Friday night the packed screening at the American Theater offered up a standing ovation. The next day, the SHINE YOUR FIERCE LIGHT workshop was charged with energy and compassion. The insitute has been host to many of the great spiritual wisdom keepers of this age, and it was an honour to form a fierce light circle there.

Sunday, I took the plane to Atlanta where a wonderful group called "Evolver" hosted my workshop in an intentional community. Appropriately, the space we were in was called "Soul Shine." Again I was moved by the depth and openess of the participants, and the feeling that there truly is a zeitgeist of compassionate action spreading around the globe, that people are ready for this synthesis of spirituality and action. The time has come!

As I write this I'm in New York City, where the Village Zendo (http://www.villagezendo.org) is hosting a Fierce Light screening on Saturday night, Oct 10 at 7pm. Then, on Sunday, Evolver NYC (http://www.evolver.net) is hosting a SHINE YOUR FIERCE LIGHT workshop, from 1-5 pm.

Please join us or spread the word if you can!

The facebook group for both events can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148061149701

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