Revolution and Meditation

“I have chosen revolution. I want to do the right thing for the people. But again, I'm aware of myself, of what I'm doing. So, I have sati [mindfulness] in me, too.”

Valerie’s intensive training under Aung Lan Sayadaw brought profound changes to her perception of the world as well as her priorities for life, transforming this once beauty pageant model into a serious meditator seeking liberation from suffering. But when the military coup took place, it took Valerie back to 1988, when she joined a nonviolent demonstration in Yangon and saw dozens of fellow protestors mercilessly shot down in the streets. Having now settled in the United States, Valerie began speaking out around the Bay Area about the situation in Myanmar. She went to school boards, met local politicians, organized protests, and attended political conferences.

But in giving her life over to advocating for the democracy movement from afar, Valerie does not see her newfound activism as any real departure from what she was practicing during those silent meditation retreats.

In a recent podcast discussion, Valerie acknowledges that her choice to embrace revolution and fight for justice may seem contradictory to the pursuit of inner peace. However, she firmly believes that the suffering and oppression inflicted by the military must be addressed before a peaceful and harmonious society can be achieved. In this way, her external advocacy work becomes an extension of her spiritual journey, a manifestation of her deep-rooted commitment to alleviating suffering.

It is worth noting that Valerie is not alone in this approach. Many Burmese Buddhist activists today are applying their meditation practices to their activism, understanding that true liberation encompasses both inner and outer realms. By maintaining mindfulness amidst their advocacy, they cultivate compassion, resilience, and clarity of purpose. Their dedication to truth, fairness, and the well-being of their people is underpinned by a profound spiritual foundation.