[Tlc] the passing of Phra Maha Ghosananda

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Dear All,

I was told this morning by former TLC chair, Anne Hansen,
about the sad loss of Phra Maha Ghosananda. As many of you
know, he was one of the most provocative Buddhist voices in
modern Cambodia. See below a letter (excerpt from his book
Step by Step) from Phra Maha Ghosananda followed by the news
of his passing.

In mourning,
justin

Prayer for Peace
  
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
my name is Maha Ghosananda, and I am a Buddhist monk
from Cambodia . 
     The people of Cambodia have known great suffering.  I
pray that, like millions of peaceful Cambodian people, all
people will find strength and compassion in their hearts
and guidance in these words of the Buddha: 
 
            In those who harbor thoughts of blame and
            vengeance toward others, hatred will never
            cease.  In those who do not harbor blame and
vengeance, hatred will surely cease.  For hatred
            is never appeased by hatred.  Hatred is ap-
            peased by love.  This is an eternal law. 
                 Just as a mother would protect her only
            child, even at the risk of her own life, so let one
            cultivate a boundless heart toward all beings. 
            Let one’s thoughts of love pervade the whole
            world—above, below, and across, without any
            obstruction, without any hatred, without any
            enmity. 
                 As long as one is awake, one should main-
            tain this mindfulness.  This is to obtain the
            blessed state in this very life.
 
The suffering of Cambodia has been deep.
from this suffering comes Great Compassion.
Great Compassion makes a peaceful Heart.
A Peaceful Heart makes a Peaceful Person.
A Peaceful Person makes a Peaceful Family.
A Peaceful Family makes a Peaceful Community. 
A Peaceful Community makes a Peaceful Nation.
And a Peaceful Nation makes a Peaceful World. 
May all beings live in Happiness and Peace.
 
Amen.
 
( an excerpt from Samdech Maha Ghosananda’s book
Step by Step, Parallax Press, 1992…)
 
____________________________________________
 
Dear All,
 
SAMDECH PRA MAHA GHOSANANDA
 
Our "Cambodia's Ghandhi", Father of Dharma Yeatra,
many times nominee for Nobel Prize for Peace, ... ...
 
Has Peacefully Passed Away Today... 12 March 2007
 
in Massachusetts, USA, 8:00 am, of old age...
 
 
Let Us All Khmer be strong and courageous enough to follow
the SAMDECH'S Path Step by Step in Our Common
Goals of finding Peace and Happiness for Our Motherland
Cambodia and Khmer People.
 
In Our Lord Buddha's Dharma,
 
Samdech Prakrou 

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu