Profile in Courage: The Intersection of CDM and Vipassana Meditation
Courage and altruism take different forms than in the movies. During this current protest movement in Myanmar, there is no lack of true heroism, and it is beyond anything that Hollywood could come up with. A prime example is my friend I spoke to a few weeks ago. A lead organizer in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), she, along with her family, had to go into hiding when soldiers came looking for her, tearing up her home and office. She continued in her efforts, undaunted, until just a few days ago an arrest warrant was issued for her, and she is now in even greater danger as she tries to avoid the search parties now after her.
There is no change in her work. She is still the only lifeline to hundreds of civil servants on strike across the country, and to those readers who have already given donations, she has been relying upon your generosity to support those still staying away from the office. While her name and whereabouts must remain hidden, she is adamant that her voice must not. When I asked what support she needs now, she said none, at least not personally… but adds that those CDM workers still have urgent needs every day. When I asked if she should be more careful with communication or with sharing her work, she replied that the opposite was in fact required now. She affirmed yesterday that she wants people here to know that she is being hunted, but even so, she will not stop her work championing the causes of freedom and democracy. So I am honoring her wishes by relaying her words here.
I’ve been unable to sleep with worry for my friend, and I’ve broken down in tears thinking about it. She, on the other hand, seems in good spirits every time we talk and never fails to express gratitude for the work I’m doing, and more importantly, the donations that all of you are providing and which is now keeping communities alive.
My full interview with her is certainly worth listening to better understanding the genesis and momentum of CDM, however the excerpt I want to include below concerns her personal dedication to vipassana meditation. Her daily practice began in earnest when COVID broke, and she keeps up her sitting now as a way to deal with the immense trauma. Her words are inspiring for practitioners everywhere. And her work is literally saving lives, and keeping the hope of freedom alive in her country. Please consider contributing to keep her dream alive.
“Meditation is for my mental health. I need to do it to reduce my trauma and my suffering.”
“Because of my work, I stayed in Nay Pyi Daw for the civil servants’ training. But last year, I didn't go to Nay Pyi Daw because of COVID. At that time, we were working only online, and I started doing meditation practice.
I followed Ledi Sayadaw's Buddhist way and also Mogok Sayadaw's way. I just followed this meditation practice and did it regularly, to release all my trauma, all my suffering. The civil servants share their story to me now, and their stories are very traumatic. They share about violence, how they got shamed, and it all affects me very deep inside. So if I don't do the meditation, I can't handle it! So I do it.
Every day, praying and meditation. Otherwise, I cannot focus. I’m shouting at everyone. I cannot have a conversation easily. I'm very frustrated and shouting all the time. So it's very difficult for me.
Meditation is a huge benefit for me, for my mind. I mean, I can focus, I can concentrate properly now! I don’t want to suffer the trauma, so I just do meditation just for relaxing my mind. And also, there is the Buddhist belief of Nibbana. To reach Nibbana, I have to do meditation practice… but that's my belief last year for meditation. Now, I am not practicing for that belief. That's my religious belief. But now, meditation is for my mental health. I need to do it to reduce my trauma and my suffering. I'm overwhelmed with so many things. So I need it to stop.”