This is David van Biema for Time.com.
I recently interviewed Thich Nhat Hanh
the world-renowned Zen monk
who helped lead protests in the 1960s
during the war in his native Vietnam.
During his visit to the Asia Society
in New York City, we spoke about Buddhism,
politics, and the militant monks of Burma.
All of us are supposed to take action,
but the way we take action may differ
in different situations, but if an action
in speech is motivated by compassion and
understanding, that is good enough to be
called a Buddhist action.
Next to the Dalai Lama, you are by far
the best known Buddhist practitioner and
we're catching you just as the conflict
in Burma has once again pulled the
question of Engaged Buddhism to the fore.
You have had many varied experiences
along the same road. From the beginning
in Vietnam when you came out in opposition
to war, to either side's position and
eventually had to leave because of that.
Your experience in the United States where
you became involved in the
anti-Vietnam War movement but also came
to know Martin Luther King and were able
to influence him toward taking his stance
against the Vietnam War.
You know that the end of the Vietnam War
was the effect of total, global collective
awakening in America. If you do not change
the thinking of the people, you cannot
change the situation.
Do you have any philosophical connection
to the protesting of Burmese monks?
We have our awareness and we have ways
to send our energy to our brothers and
sisters in Burma. Our monastic brothers
and sisters have offered their spiritual
leadership. That is already a success,
because even if the monks are imprisoned
or have died, they have already offered
their leadership.
I should add that the leading spokesperson
for the Burmese monks who have been
protesting recently called to the Asia
Society by satellite phone to say that
they are aware of the actions of the
international community.
but that he feels that this is not
enough to stop the violence.
The action of our monastic brothers in
Burma has shown that they are aware of
what is going on in their country, and
they have enough compassion in order to
take action. And up to the people in
Burma if they're going to continue.
The most powerful statement by the monks
was the turning over of their begging
bowls, denying the regime credit for
donating alms. That was apparently a very
powerful symbolic gesture.
Well, there are non-violent ways,
compassionate ways to express one's self.
And not to accept alms from those who are
oppressing people is a real message.
That is also the act of non-cooperation.
In the United States, many people have
been exposed to a Buddhism that seems far
more concerned with meditation and
mindfulness than it necessarily is with
world events. Is that kind of Buddhist
activism, which seems political, much more
common among Buddhists outside of the
United States?
In America, also, if you practice
meditation, you should be aware of what is
going on inside of you, the suffering
inside and the suffering outside. And when
you are in touch with the suffering, your
understanding and compassion arise, and
with that you will take action.
Do you have a position on our involvement
in Iraq?
It seems to me that the war has not helped
reduce terrorism. It has created more
anger and violence. It has created more
terrorists, so it's time to look deeply in
order to find ways in order to stop the
war. Dialogue, listen deeply with
compassion. The monks in Burma have
offered their spiritual leadership, and I
have not seen that in this country. Our
spiritual leaders have offered their
leadership in a very clear way because the
country, the nation needs a clear voice on
Iraq, on the war. And we have been
expecting to hear that voice from the
spiritual leadership in America.
The awakening of the insight offered by
the monks should go into the mind of
everyone because only a collective
awakening can produce a change.
"Budh" means 'to wake up,' and "Buddha"
means 'the one who is awake' and if we can
help everyone on Earth to wake up, we have
a chance. Thank you.