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Côc ngoc yên interview
In New York, faced with collective suffering, the local Sangha took the initiative to publish in the New York Times that “violence cannot be overcome by violence,” before a talk gathering some 4,000 people—1,500 of whom remained outside in the cold. To carry this message of compassion and forgiveness, I observed a ten-day fast supported by my disciples, then spent the whole day responding to television and radio interviews about my book Anger, thus sharing these teachings against anger with tens of millions of people. The day after September 11th, with Andrew Young and about twenty friends, we meditated in silence near Ground Zero—invoking Namo Buddhaya, Namo Dharmaya, Namo Saṅghaya—to embrace the pain of the victims and to help prevent an escalation toward a world war.
To understand terrorism, we must identify not only its external causes but also the “seeds of anger” and wrong perceptions within each of us: believing that God is always on only one side nourishes division and violence. The military cannot uproot a “disease” they cannot locate in the human heart; only understanding, love, and the practice of mindfulness—calm, deep looking, compassionate listening—can offer a path of healing. This is the mission of engaged Buddhism: to transform individual and social suffering, to build communities of practice (sanghas) throughout the world, and to offer political and spiritual leaders clear insight in order to build peace.
