That was then; this is now

When we worked in Indochinese refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines, in 1980-81, Khmer refugees told us that they had thrown away their spectacles so that no one would guess that they could read. One student often made his face impassive and blank to demonstrate the "stupid look" he used to fool Khmer Rouge guards. A French teacher explained how he had to feign ignorance whenever a guard spoke French in an attempt to discover anyone with an education.

Every refugee we met had witnessed unspeakable horror. Repeatedly, however, we heard that these crimes might be forgiven, but the most monstrous of all acts perpetrated by the Pol Pot regime was the destruction of the Buddha Sasana, which was the glory of Cambodia.

In 1986, we were living and working in Japan, but we still visited the Khmer camps on the Thai/Cambodian border, mainly to support the camp monasteries. That summer, we also spent two weeks in Burma, a country we'd visited many times before. At the Sangha University in Rangoon, as we were talking with a group of monks in the library, we mentioned Cambodia.

Soon the monks began talking together animatedly in Burmese. After a few minutes, the librarian asked whether we could carry some things back to the Khmer monks. Of course, we could! The next day, they gave us cloth bags stuffed full of robes, umbrellas, slippers, fans, towels, flags, and Dhamma books. Our good Dhamma friend in Rangoon entrusted us with some Arahat relics from Kyaukse for the Cambodians as well.

When we got back to Bangkok, we went immediately to the UNHCR office and asked one of the field officers to arrange for this Sanghdana to be delivered to the monastery in Khao-i-Dang Refugee Camp in Aranyaprethet. A few months later, he sent us an official report, a letter from the monastery committee, and some wonderful photographs of the donation ceremony and the great procession enshrining the relics.

It was our pleasure to enable the Burmese monks to be of help to the Cambodian refugee monks.

That was then, and this is now. Twenty years later, Burma has become the killing field. In September, monks began leading peaceful demonstrations against the oppressive military government.

The generals response was abrupt and violent. Monks were beaten and killed as they chanted the Metta Sutta. Monasteries were raided, and as many as 10,000 monks were arrested. Buddhist Relief Mission immediately sent out an appeal for donations and support.

One of the first to respond was the resident monk of a Cambodian monastery in the United States. His devotees not only began meditating and extending metta to the beleaguered Burmese, but the monastery committee voted that part of their Kathina donations would be sent to support the monks of Burma.

Soon it will be our pleasure to enable those Cambodian Buddhists to offer assistance, support and encouragement to the Burmese who see their precious Triple Refuge under threat.