Buddhist Support

“War ends only when people love each other.” -Buddha

Buddhism has a well-deserved reputation in the popular imagination as a non-violent, peaceful religion that rejects hatred and teaches compassion. Images of the self-immolation of Buddhist monks protesting the US invasion and support of an oppressive South Vietnamese government are seared into the memories of people across the world.

Like many other religions, Buddhism has not been immune from being exploited and weaponized as a tool by kings and generals who sought to expand their power. Today militant Buddhism is on the rise across South Asia. The dominant strand of Buddhism in South Asia, Theravada Buddhism, has in the past few decades seen groups emerge that tie extremist nationalism and Buddhism together in Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka and Thailand. The discourse of these groups is violently anti-minority, targeting Christians, Hindus, Muslims and non-conforming Buddhists.

Buddhist groups within Burma and around the globe have condemned Burma’s homegrown extremist militant monks and their supporters.

Dalai Lama has condemned Myanmar’s oppression of Rohingya in 2012, 2015 and then again in 2017. This is a list of other Buddhist leaders, organizations and public figures that have also condemned Myanmar’s persecution of Rohingya:

Westside Buddhist Teachers’ Council

 Respond To Violence 2012

Buddhist Punk Rockers Take Stand Against Buddhist Monks Persecution

Buddhist Teacher Jack Kornfield Speaks Out Against Violence in Myanmar – July 2014

Anti-Muslim Violence Betrays Buddhist Teachings -July 2014

Buddhist Leaders Plead For Burma In Letter To Obama – November 2014

Burmese Monks Awarded For Standing Against Persecution Of Rohingya – June 2015

Joint Open Letter to Myanmar – September 2017

Bangladeshi Buddhists protest Rohingya persecution in Myanmar on Probarona Purnima – October 2017

Buddhist leaders from across the world