|
|
|
| Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
The US, a paper tiger by Saybhan Samat The US came into Iraq believing that it was a mere way-station, and that it would soon be marching on Syria, Iran perhaps even Saudi-Arabia, imposing 'regime change' everywhere. Instead it is caught in a situation where it cannot even control Iraq. The slogan of the US was shock and awe but it has turned up to be a quagmire. The US is discovering that the use of raw material force has its limitations. Bereft of moral authority, America's use of brute force has been neutralised in a way that was unimaginable when Washington's neo-conservatives conspired to invade and occupy the country. The longer the US forces stay in Iraq the more difficult their situation gets. Therefore, the US has to leave the country eventually, it would be in its best interest to withdraw sooner than later. According to the latest poll, 59 per cent of Americans now want the troops to be brought back, whatever the situation in Iraq. The US dollar is at a record low, the US deficit at a record high. The popularity ratings of George Bush are lower now than those of Lyndon Johnson at that point in the Vietnam war when he abdicated his presidency. In the latest development the US Senate has called for a phased withdrawal of troops from early next year. Further, the contempt he and his cabal showed for the lives and dignity of American citizens in New Orleans and elsewhere, during after Hurricane Katrina, has eroded what little moral authority he commanded as crusader against 'threat to America.' Despite the spiraling down turn of Bush's popularity, with bluster and posturing he wants to be 'staying the course' in Iraq. He is hoping that the coming elections in Iraq will turn things in his favour. However with the stay of Italian forces and even British forces in Iraq in the balance there is a gloom coming over the horizon. The situation in Afghanistan is as bad. The resistance in Iraq and Afghanistan has blunted US ambitions sufficiently to put on hold further adventures of this kind abroad. Repeated use of force has lost it effectiveness. In the event of the US withdrawal from Iraq the US will be viewed as a paper tiger and despite her possessing the latest modern weapons, she could be defeated. If Nirvana is attained just before death... by B.C.Fernando While awake, there will be a vision as if you are in a tunnel and travelling within it. This should be the base on your consciousness. Here it is like a bin with sediment of previous existence. Normally we live with the surface or outer area of the consciousness. To seek Nirvana it should be from the active of surface consciousness and not from the 'bin'. When we are dead, and inhibited with greedy attachment to our consciousness, then our consciousness will seek ghost\hell withe forms. But if we are then free from attachment to the consciousness then we are in godly state with forms. Their past is inactive. But they posses sense field activities. Further, if there is no sense field activities, but with forms, then we are in rupa state. If there are no sense field activities and no forms, then we are in arupa state. At death if one meditates and achieves jhana state, then one will automatically suppress inhibitions from the consciousness and thereby according to the jhana state, seek one's future. To seek Nirvana, read thoughts of others, of physic powers, use your surface consciousness and thereby according to the jhana state, seek one's future. To seek Nirvana, read thoughts of others, or physic powers, use your surface consciousness. Surface consciousness is between its base and your body. If Nirvana is attained just before death, then it is the Final Nirvana. Heaven or humans cannot appoint gods. They are purely by the condition of their consciousness. Human appointed gods like Kataragama or Ganadeva does not posses the power to help us. Here we use our own energy to help us. In fact no god can help us. We have to help ourselves. As Buddhists we must not worship any god. If you do so in your next existence you be enslaved, lose your individuality and be in hell. Buddhism went through changes to overcome human weakness. Thereby lost the originality and purpose. Buddha showed us the way to improve self to the point of final liberation, and to avoid slavery/hell. Let us follow pure Buddhism. If interested, we can for achievement, get together at equal levels without inhibitions. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
