Sulak Sivaraksa

Sulak Sivaraksa

Mr. Sivaraksa brought a Buddhist perspective to bear in his plenary presentation, "Culture and Reconciliation." He explained the "need to move beyond the dualistic thinking that reconciliation is only forgiveness or compensation between oppressors and victims."

In the process, he used two case studies, one from South Africa and the other from the country he calls Siam, rejecting "Thailand" as a chauvinist, racist construct.

In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission sought to promote forgiveness and justice, yet people still suffer anger, frustration and disillusionment in a context of worsening poverty and crime. In Siam, construction of the Pak Moon Dam destroyed five villages and thousands of livelihoods, driving many people into urban poverty.

These cases demonstrate that political changes and monetary compensation are not enough to transform deep-seated anger. "Innovation and creativity are crucial elements in the process of reconciliation," Mr. Sivaraksa said. "Forgiveness and a correction of past wrongs are not enough, there must be cooperative efforts at constructing a new and better reality."

He continued with additional insights:

* "Frustration at misinformation and propaganda is a big source of anger … and revealing misinformation is a component of the reconciliation process."

* Nurturing spiritual transformation in the individual, family, community and nation is a necessary foundation for political and social reconciliation and the foundation of a more just society.

* Reconciliation requires understanding of the many causes of hatred and greed, acknowledgment that the shared struggle of humanity is overcoming them, and translation of this awareness into life-nurturing actions including "everything from daily acts of kindness to improvements in health, education and housing."

* Reconciliation requires rejection of the "binary distinctions between good and evil, East and West, knowledge and intuition" as obstacles to insight and action. "From a non-dualistic perspective, we are all both aggressors and victims and must not embrace only one identity. Even the most flawed people have Buddha-nature, or as the Quakers say, every one of us has God within us."

* "Urban poverty has a particularly dehumanizing effect. Scarcity, despair and alienation from nature create a culture of ‘kill or be killed’ and individualism seems the only strategy for survival. In such situations, there is a deep need for a culture of reconciliation and it must come through skillful means. Truth, forgiveness and renewed strength must be fostered but grounded in indigenous traditions and wisdom."

* "Anger is part of the human experience and should not be ignored or suppressed. For the process of reconciliation to occur it is necessary to be able to express and understand anger without judgment." This requires "mindfulness," awareness of our interconnectedness and the universality of suffering. "When we have this realization we see that anger directed at other living beings is futile and we are called to act with compassion."

* "In the process of reconciliation we should use all possible allies to foster cooperation….When we have setbacks we depend on our friends, allies and supporters to help us through it and our awareness of interconnectedness is strengthened."