MLK and Hanh= Bodhisattvas
REST IN PEACE (R.I.P.)
Thích Nh?t H?nh (1926-2022) passed away on Saturday 01/22/22 at the age of 95. He began studying Buddhism at age 16 and at 23 he became a monk. In the early 1960s, when he was 36, he gave lectures at Columbia & Princeton universities and during this time he also nominated Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize.
H?nh objected to the developing war between the US and Vietnam (where he was born) and so he returned there in 1963 to promote nonviolent resolutions. In 1964 he published “Condemnation”, a powerful poem; excerpts...
“Whoever is listening, be my witness: I cannot accept this war. I never could, I never will. I must say this a thousand times before I am killed. I am like the bird who dies for the sake of its mate, dripping blood from its broken beak and crying out: 'Beware! Turn around and face your real enemies — ambition, violence, hatred and greed.' ”
Like many, MANY millions of others around the world, I too am inspired by the examples of MLK & H?nh. Regarding 'the sabre (or saber) rattling' getting louder between the US & Russia & China -- I am deeply concerned. What can you do? SPEAK UP! What can I do? Well, many know that I'm deficient in certain skills for developing and leading a blossoming organization, but I & WE are doing what we can. WE ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION and speaking up through ATLANTA: City of Peace, Inc. (ACP).
In spite of my various inabilities, this is what I can do... Call out to you and all. 'May you and the sisters and brothers of our Global Family, 'ONE TRIBE', rise up to prove the powers of peace & love are greater than military industrial complex which President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against in his 1961 farewell speech.'
Considering that Mahatma Gandhi stated "THE FUTURE IS WITH WOMAN" (92 years ago in 1930) then it would be GREAT if the women of our Global Family proclaimed:
"There are better solutions to war than bombs, bunkers, bullets, battles, bloodshed and bankruptcy."
May the deeply concerned women & men of our Global Family recall the powerful words of Julia Ward Howe from her Mother’s Day Proclamation for Peace in 1870...
“Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water, or of tears!… We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says “Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”?
It's amazing to note that Thich Nhat Hanh spoke in 7 languages and that he authored over 100 books! His words were POWERFUL and full of transformation. In this current era with the blossoming of the worldwide movement supporting environmentalism Hanh's proclamation of old is especially pertinent:
“walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
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In 1966, Dr. King and Thich Nhat Hanh met for the very first time (an event in Chicago). Regarding their connection, Hanh shared that “We had a discussion about peace, freedom, and community. And we agreed that without a community, we cannot go very far.” It's exciting to note that, during this event, Hanh had hosted a press conference with Dr. King in attendance. Here, Hanh was publicly recognized by Dr. King for urging him to oppose the Vietnam War.
One can see King's influence on Hanh in that first quote or statement above because developing the ideal of the Beloved Community had been a goal of Dr. King since 1956. In King's 'Birth of A New Nation' speech from 1957 he had said, “The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community. The aftermath of nonviolence is redemption. The aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation.”
One can also see Hanh's influence upon King. In early 1967 Dr. King nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize less than 8 months after first meeting Hanh in 1966. In his nomination letter to the Norwegian Nobel Institute Dr. King stated:
“I do not personally know of anyone more worthy than this gentle monk from Vietnam... His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, and to humanity.”
And WOW! When you examine the 4 April 1967 "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" speech by Dr. King (exactly one year before his assassination on 4 April 1968) the formidable influence of Hanh still emanates. These words of Dr. King, below, hold particular weight for me because I have discovered there's no better disposition to cultivate than his "FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW!" Dr. King stated in part:
“This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men... Let us love one another... History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate. As Arnold Toynbee says : 'Love is the ultimate force that makes for the saving choice of life and good against the damning choice of death and evil. Therefore the first hope in our inventory must be the hope that love is going to have the last word.' We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity... We still have a choice today; nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation... We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and justice throughout the developing world -- a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act we shall surely be dragged down the long dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight. Now let us begin.”
The very next month, in May 1967, King & Hanh met for the second time at the Pacem In Terris ('PEACE ON EARTH') Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. While here, they had met up for breakfast and Hanh had told him:
“Martin, you know something? In Vietnam they call you a Bodhisattva, an enlightened being trying to awaken other living beings and help them go in the direction of compassion and understanding.”
[ EXCELLENT Thich Nhat Hanh video here ]
What is especially inspiring is the 2015 establishment, or 'planting', of the Beloved Community Garden in the State of Mississippi that features a beautiful sculpture of Dr. King and Thich Nhat Hanh (image below). This peace garden celebrates the connection and collaboration of two globally-respected Bodhisattvas. Located in Batesville, Mississippi, it was created by the Magnolia Grove Monastery (also called Magnolia Grove Meditation Practice Center).
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize and currently the most referenced living Nobel Peace laureate) delivered words of praise and condolence upon hearing about the death of Thich Nhat Hanh (news article here).