Aung San Suu Kyi: Buddhism has influenced my worldview

Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Rangoon at 19 June 1945. Her father, Aung San was the founder of the modern Burmese army, whom was assasinated by rivals in 1947, the same year he negotiated with the British Empire for Burma’s independance. In 1960, Suu Kyi’s  mother, Khin Kyi was appointed as the Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal. It was in New Delhi where she obtained her degree in politics in 1964. She also graduated with a B.A. degree in philisophy, politics and economics from St Hugh’s College, Oxford in 1969.

After graduating, she moved to New York where she worked for 3 years at the UN. She married in 1972, to Dr Micheal Aris, a scholar of Tibetan culture. Her first son, Alexander Aris was born the following year… and her second son, Kim was born in 1977.

When Suu Kyi went back to Burma in 1988, it was as if fate has determined her involvement in her country’s freedom… in that very year, Burma’s long time military leader stepped down which lead to mass demonstrations for a democratic country. However, they were suppressed violently and despite her effort of leading a mass rally consisting of half a million people, a new military junta took power a month later. This was the very beginning of her involvement in politics, to fight for something she truly believe in which is to set her country free.

Suu Kyi’s political career is largely influenced by both Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and Buddhist concepts. Her involvement in her country’s politics has led her to being placed under house arrest for a total of 15 years out of her 21 years of political career. She was recently released in 13th November 2010, the expiry of her detention date according to the court ruling in 2009. Her release was largely due to internasional pressure that the Burmese government received from all over the world. Until today, Suu Kyi is still working hard to make her country a better place for the benefit of her people.

 Happier days… Suu Kyi and her husband Dr Micheal Aris. The last time Suu Kyi met her husband was on Christmas 1995. Dr Aris was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 1997. Due to Suu Kyi’s status of house arrest, Dr Aris was denied a visa to enter Burma to meet his wife. Although the Burmese government urged Suu Kyi to leave the country to visit her ill husband, she was reluctant to depart in fear that she will be denied entry into Burma upon leaving. At this time, she made the ultimate sacrifice for her country by not leaving Burma… Dr Aris passed away in 1999 on his 53rd birthday, while Suu Kyi was in house arrest in Burma.

 Suu Kyi with her first born son, Alexander Aris in London.

Finally reunited… After being away from her family for 10 years, Suu Kyi was finally able to meet her second son, Kim Aris in November 2010

The house where Suu Kyi lived during her 15 years of house arrest. She was denied meetings with her supporters and international visitors. She spent her days reading philosophy, politics and biographies that her late husband sent her.

Throughout her political career, Suu Kyi received more than 27 international awards… among them was The Nobel Peace Prize (1991), Congressional Gold Medal (2008) and many more.

Aung San Suu Kyi is an amazing woman… She faced with so many obstacles through out her career, but she held on… not giving up or losing sight of her main goal. Although so much has happened during the 21 years of her political career… the loss of her husband, being separated from her children, denied visitation rights… she selflessly put her personal situation aside and continued working tirelessly for the benefit of her people in Burma. No matter what obstacles arose it did not deter her. Truly an inspiration for people who give up very easily when the slightest discomforts are encountered.

After going through so much ordeal, Suu Kyi didn’t turn out bitter, or had any self-pity… Instead of being proud of her perserverance… she credited it all to her Buddhist Dharma practice as a Theravadan Buddhist… and it’s wonderful because whenever people read her biography, they will know that Dharma can bring peace and happiness even in the most difficult situations. That knowledge, through her living example… will save lives. She truly is a women worth admiration and we all can learn alot from her. Buddhism as her faith plays a large part to forming her attitude and strength. She draws strength from Buddha Dharma as do I.

If you were in her situation, what would you have done? How would you view the world after 15 years of house arrest? I am presenting this powerful lady to all of you just as an inspiration. I am not interested in politics, or nor am I judging what is happening in Burma nor do I infer anything. I am simply blogging about a powerful person who inspires me with her courage, determination and total self sacrifice. A human who uses her life for others.  I wish this lady extremely long life, health and many blessings.

Tsem Rinpoche

I found her a truly remarkable person. I have never met anyone like her before except for Nelson Mandela, who later became president of the nation that imprisoned him.

Below is an excerpt from the event.

QUESTIONER: I’m Sally Quinn from the Washington Post, editor-in-chief of “On Faith.” And like Fred Hiatt, my colleague, I wish you would write for us. (Laughter.) This is more of a personal question. I don’t know what I expected to see from you today, maybe somebody looking very tired and worn and maybe a little embittered. And yet I see an incredibly cheerful and optimistic person before me. And given what you have been through in the last 15 or 20 years, which none of us can really imagine, what has gotten you through all of this? You have talked about how we mustn’t — we want restorative, not punitive. And you’ve said, let’s forget the past. Is it your faith that’s gotten you through this and brought you to the point where now you can be as optimistic and as cheerful and as forward-looking as you are?

SUU KYI: Well, let me answer you bit by bit. So — (audio break) — and secondly, I am tired — in fact, rather sleepy as well. But I’m glad it doesn’t show. (Laughter.)

And thirdly — well, I’m not embittered. But I have to say that I’m not saying forget the past. We must face the past. We can’t forget it. But we don’t need to remember it with bitterness. We don’t need to remember it with anger. We need the past in order to — we need to remember the past in order to avoid the kind of mistakes we’ve made then in the future. So we need the past in order to help us live the future better — the present and the future better.

And you asked if it was anything to do with my faith. I suppose you mean with my religion. I suppose partly it must have something to do with that because, well, I am a believing Buddhist, so I am sure the teachings of Buddhism do affect the way I think.

But more than that, I would state that when I started out in politics, in this movement for democracy, I always started out with the idea that this should be a process that would bring greater happiness, greater harmony and greater peace to our nation. And this cannot be done if you are going to be bound by anger and by desire for revenge. So I’ve never thought that the way to go forward was through anger and bitterness, but through understanding, trying to understand the other side, and through the ability to negotiate with people who think quite differently from you and to agree to disagree if necessary — if necessary and to somehow bring harmony out of different ways of thinking.

Watch the video interview of Aung San Suu Kyi

http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/A-Conversation-with-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi.flv

Or view the video on You Tube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdiLvKP89yk

(Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9%2c10600%2c0%2c0%2c1%2c0)

Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma