Comments on: The Burmese Satyagraha

By: Raghavendra Udupa

Raghavendra Udupa — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:57:28 +0000

The break up of ’satyagraha’ into ’satya’ and ‘graha’ is incorrect according to the Sandhi rules of Sanskrit, I think. The correct breakup is ’satya’ + ‘Agraha’ where ‘Agraha’ means demand. So, ’satyagraha’ literally means demanding truth.

By: bob tripathi

bob tripathi — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:01:29 +0000

Thank you Avinash for “blogging” about this. Just the other day i was talking to someone about the name transition from Rangoon to Burma to Myanmar. Non-violent philosophies hold true to even this day and age……

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:25:06 +0000

YANGON, Myanmar - Soldiers in Myanmar pounded down on dissenters Friday by swiftly breaking up street gatherings of die-hard activists, occupying key Buddhist monasteries and cutting public Internet access. The moves raised concerns that a crackdown on civilians that has killed at least 10 people this week was set to intensify.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_re_as/myanmar

By: nancy zimmerman

nancy zimmerman — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:06:14 +0000

how deeply moving. Thank you for this.

By: Marianina Chaplin

Marianina Chaplin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:14 +0000

About ten years ago when I visited Laos and Cambodia, I was struck by the kindness and gentleness of the monks in their saffron coloured robes. And was honoured to be able to visit their temple in Luang Prabang and see them work - they continue to scythe the long grass by hand. We were asked by some if we would like to visit Burma/Myanmar but didn’t because we had heard the terrible stories of villages laid to waste and ruin and then rebuilt 20 miles away as a “tourist attraction” where all the proceeds would go to the Junta. So, a passive way to support is not to visit official/touristic Burma and keep lining the pockets of those who are oppressing the people/monks. A better way, would be getting involved with the Burma campaign. Thanks Avinash for using the influence of your blog for the good. Marianina

By: links for 2007-09-26 « Green Tea Ice Cream

links for 2007-09-26 « Green Tea Ice Cream — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:29:20 +0000

[...] The Burmese Satyagraha We may have an election coming up in the UK soon. Before you decide that none of the parties are worth voting for, take a look at monks who’re literally laying their lives on the line for for that very right. (tags: politics democracy Burma protest) [...]

By: David Fletcher

David Fletcher — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:03:48 +0000

Avinash: Thank you, for identifying such a worthy cause. I join you adding my voice to the efforts of the monks in Myanmar. It is great that even in this day and age some believe that the gun is not the answer.

On a different note, it is always nice to get to know the person behind the blog. Thanks for sharing a bit of your passion with us.

By: Alexander

Alexander — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:52:27 +0000

Thanks for the the non-violent prod to act, Avinash!

By: Jennifer Reynard

Jennifer Reynard — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:36:25 +0000

I came back to this entry three times today before finally making a comment. It is so difficult to think of anything to say that isn’t random or completely useless.

I hope that there will be justice in Myanmar (and Zimbabwe, and Dafur) sometime soon. I do think that people the world over need to be aware that for some people civil liberties is a theoretical concept. Sometimes, when faced with our inability to do anything, we should just remember to pray and to hope, and where possible to raise our voices in protest.

By: Michael Whitehouse

Michael Whitehouse — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:30:15 +0000

Avinash,

Thanks for this very relevant and timely reflection on an issue that should concern all of us.

Too often, we North Americans throw around words like “bravery,” “courage,” and “resistance to tyranny” almost flippantly.

This is a true instance of courage, in an impoverished country that has suffered much and received very little attention for it.