Heed Suu Kyi's Words: A Revolution of the Spirit

The peaceful struggle for democracy in Burma has undergone a brutal crackdown by blood-thirsty military rulers.

Gunfire resounded through the air on Wednesday as Buddhist monks chanted the “Metta  Sutra” (the Buddha's words on living kindness). Soldiers and riot police beat many monks who bravely resisted by sitting down in front of security forces.

Monks in Rangoon on Thursday said five fellow monks were shot dead or beaten to death by security forces on Wednesday. The tragedy, unfortunately, is only beginning: more blood will flow on the road to democracy in the coming days.

The bloodshed has unfolded despite calls for restraint by the international community. The UN secretary-general repeatedly called on the regime to seize this opportunity to restore democracy and national reconciliation with all parties in the country, but to no avail.

The United Nation Security Council will meet on Thursday. But what can the council do? Just this year, a critical resolution on Burma proposed by the US and Britain was vetoed by China and Russia, two strong supporters of the junta.

For a long-term perspective, we can turn to the writing of Aung San Suu Kyi, the people’s beloved democracy leader, who has always acknowledged the enduring strength of the Burmese people, while also calling for help from all people who support democracy and human rights.

“It is not enough merely to call for freedom, democracy and human rights,” Suu Kyi wrote in "Freedom from Fear." “There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill will, ignorance and fear.”

“The quest for democracy in Burma is the struggle of a people to live whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community. It is part of the unceasing human endeavor to prove that the spirit of man can transcend the flaws of his nature.”

The current military crackdown, despite the killings and beatings, can’t stop Buddhist monks who practice loving kindness and sacrifice for the well-being of the suffering people of Burma. As Suu Kyi said, this is a "revolution of the spirit”—it must transcend inhumanity.

During the failed struggle for democracy in 1988, Suu Kyi told her people to continue to struggle without regard for the outcome.

Her words are very important in the situation we find ourselves today:

“Even though we don’t know what will happen, we need to carry on as best we can, without wavering, along the correct path,” Suu Kyi said. “If you ask whether we shall achieve democracy…here is what I say: Don’t think about whether or not these things will happen. Just continue to do what you believe is right. Later on the fruits of what you do will become apparent on their own. One’s responsibility is to do the right thing.”