잭 콘필드와 타라 브랙, 수미 런던 등 미국과 유럽의 불교 지도자 160여명이 미얀마 로힝야족에 대한 인권유린 사태와 관련해 성명을 내고 “미얀마의 불교 지도자들이 로힝야 족 인종청소에 반대해야 한다”고 주장하고 나섰다.

서구 불교지도자들은 미얀마 불교지도자들과 미얀마 대통령과 미얀마 외교부, 유엔 난민 고등 판무관실, 미얀마 대사관 등에 보내는 서한을 통해 “상좌부 불교권과 대승불교권, 밀교 전통의 불교도들과 함께 미얀마 라킨 주에 살고 있는 수십만명의 무슬림 형제자매들에 대한 구조적인 폭력과 학대에 우려를 표시한다”고 밝혔다.

이들은 “믿을 만한 언론들에 따르면 미얀마 라킨 주(Rakhine state)의 마을에서 살인, 구타, 기아, 질병, 강간이 벌어지고 있고, 많은 사람이 핍박을 피해 망명을 떠나고 있다”며 “우리는 이 상황을 매우 부끄러운 연민의 마음으로 지켜보고 있다”고 강조했다.

이들은 이어 “세계의 많은 사람들이 붓다의 가르침에 대한 중상 모략과 왜곡으로 큰 혼란에 빠져 있다”며 “불법에 따르면 증오와 폭력에 대한 정당성은 없다”고 지적했다. 특히 미얀마 불교계의 Ma Ba Tha 스님이 주도한 비열한 말과 직접적인 도발은 보편적인 도덕과 평화에 관한 불교의 계율과 붓다의 가르침에 뚜렷하게 어긋나는 것이라고 비판했다.

이들은 또 “미얀마 국가 승가 마하 나야카위원회 (State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee)가 증오심 표현과 인종 청소에 나서고 있는 마바타 스님에 대해 강력한 조치를 통해 불교를 바로 세워줄 것”을 촉구했다. 이어 “아웅산 수치 여사를 포함한 미얀마 정부와 군대에도 평화와 모든 종교 및 소수 민족의 취약한 공동체 보호를 위해 노력해줄 것”을 요구했다.

또 유엔과 미국 국무부에도 적극적인 행동을 요청했다. 유엔과 미국이 관련국가들에게 평화적 수단을 사용하여 민족적 긴장 해결에 나설 것을 요청했다.

이들은 “미얀마 국민과 폭력과 증오를 조장하는 민족주의 스님들, 미얀마 군대에 의한 잔인한 인종청소가 중단되고 모든 공동체가 조화롭게 함께 살 수 있기를 희망한다”고 밝혔다.

끝으로 전 세계 불교도들이 미얀마의 상황에 대해 관심을 가져줄 것과 국제 구호기구를 통한 기부에도 나서달라고 당부했다

서명 명단

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Buddhist Global Relief
Jack Kornfield, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar Meditation Community
Pema Chödrön, Gampo Abbey, Nova Scotia, Canada
Joseph Goldstein, Insight Meditation Society, MA
Dhammachari Lokamitra, Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha, India
Phra Paisal Visalo, Abbot, Wat Pasukato, Chaiyaphum, Thailand
Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke, Clear View Project
Rev. Ronald Kobata, Buddhist Church of San Francisco, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Guiding Teacher, new Dharma Community
David R. Loy, Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center
Ajahn Sucitto, Cittaviveka Monastery, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Santikaro Upasaka, Liberation Park, Norwalk, WI
Jill Jameson, Advisory Committee, International Network of Engaged Buddhists
Mushim Patricia Ikeda, Core teacher, East Bay Meditation Center, CA
Katie Loncke, Co-Director, Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Dawn Haney, Co-Director, Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Rev. Acharya Fleet Maull, Prison Dharma Network
Pascal Auclair, True North Insight Meditation Centre, Canada
Revs. Chozen Bays & Hogen Bays, Abbots, Great Vow Zen Monastery, Clatskanie, OR
Rev. Enkyo Pat O’Hara, Village Zendo, New York, NY
Rev. Linda Ruth Cutts, Central Abbess, San Francisco Zen Center
Rev. Furyu Schroeder, Abbess, Green Dragon Zen Temple, CA
Rev James Myoun Ford, Blue Cliff Zen Sangha, Long Beach, CA
Rev. Josh Jiun Bartok, Abbot, Greater Boston Zen Center
Rev. Edward Keido Sanshin Oberholtzer, Boundless Way Zen, Lewisburg, PA
Rev. Melissa Myozen Blacker, Abbot, Boundless Way Zen, MA
Michael Fieleke, Dharma Holder, Boundless Way Zen
Rev. David Dae An Rynick, Guiding Teacher, Boundless Way Zen, MA
Kenneth Kraft, emeritus professor, Lehigh University.
Rev. Joshin Brian Byrnes, Upaya Zen Center, NM
Rev. Koun Franz, Zen Nova Scotia
Rev Inryu Bobbi Ponce-Barger, All Beings Zen Sangha, Washington D.C.
Jack Lawlor/True Direction, Lakeside Buddhist sangha, Evanston, IL
Kristin Barker, Director and Co-Founder, One Earth Sangha
Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Abbot, Zen Center of Los Angeles
Rev. Dr. Douglas San-un Phillips, Empty Sky Sangha, W. Cornwall, CT
Rev. Jay Rinsen Weik, Abbot, Great Heartland Sangha, Buddhist Temple of Toledo
Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, President, Buddhist Council of New York
Ajahn Punnadhammo, Abbott, Arrow River Forest Hermitage, Thunder Bay, Canada
Dosho Port, Head Priest, Nebraska Zen Center
Tara Brach, Insight Meditation Community of Washington D.C.
Wes Nisker, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
James Baraz, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Mary Grace Orr, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Diana Winston, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Mark Coleman, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Anna Douglas, PhD, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Eugene Cash, Spirit Rock Mediation Center, CA
Donald Rothberg, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Oren J. Sofer, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Carol Wilson, Insight Meditation Society, MA
Rodney Smith, Seattle Insight Meditation Society, WA
Rev. Eido Frances Carney, Abbess, Olympia Zen Center
Rev. Sumi Loundon Kim, Buddhist chaplain, Duke University
Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, Chicago, IL
Hosho Peter Coyote, Vimala Sangha, CA
Justin Whitaker, PhD, Sīla Mindfulness, Seattle, WA
Rev. Domyo Burk, Guiding Teacher, Bright Way Zen, Portland, OR
Erin Treat, Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center & Durango Dharma Center.
Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama, Long Beach Buddhist Church, CA
John Bell, YouthBuild USA
Kenshin Catherine Cascade, Bird Haven Zendo, Cheshire, OR
Dennis Bohn/True Mountain of Peace, Order of Interbeing/Plum Village
Catherine McGee, Gaia House, Insight Meditation Centre, United Kingdom
Jill Shepherd, Auckland Insight, New Zealand
Maciej Janowicz, DSc., Warsaw University of Life Sciences, SGGW
Nikki Mirghafori, Spirit Rock Meditation Center & Insight Meditation Center
Kittisaro & Thanissara, Dharmagiri Meditation Centre & Sacred Mountain Sangha
Chris Zangtsal Starbuck, Dharmaholder, Zen Peacemaker Circles
Janet Lipner, Midwest Buddhist Temple, IL
Kenley Neufeld, Dharma Teacher, Order of Interbeing
Bernie Glassman, Founder, Zen Peacemakers, Montague, MA,
Eve Myonen Marko, Head Teacher, Green River Zen Center, Montague, MA,
Rev. Tenku Ruff, NY
Rob Burbea, Gaia House, UK
Dr Adrianne Ross, British Columbia Insight Meditation Society, Vancouver, Canada
Marcia Rose, Guiding Teacher, The Mountain Hermitage, NM
David Gumpert, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, MA
Rev. Myoan Grace Schireson, Central Valley Zen, CA
Robert A. Thurman, Professor, Columbia University, NY
Sally Armstrong, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Brian Ryojun Victoria, Ph.D.Fellow, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
Marty Krasney—Executive Director, Dalai Lama Fellows
Chas DiCapua, Insight Meditation Society, MA
Rev. Kosen Greg Snyder, Brooklyn Zen Center & Union Theological Seminary
Greg Scharf, Insight Meditation Society, MA
Rev. Mary Mocine, Clear Water Zen Center, CA
Joyce Kornblatt, Cloud Refuge Sangha, Blackheath, NSW, Australia
Zen Master Bon Hae Judy Roitman, Kansas Zen Center, Lawrence, KS
Zen Master Hae Kwang Stan Lombardo, Kansas Zen Center, Lawrence, KS
Andrea Fella, Insight Meditation Center of the Mid-Peninsula; Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA
Rev. Ryuun Joriki Baker, Blue Mountain Zendo, PA
Howard Cohn, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, California
Anne Seisen Saunders, Sweetwater Zen Center, CA
Rev. Diane Shoshin Fitzgerald, Boundless Way Zen
Fran Ludwig, Dharma Teacher, Boundless Way Zen
Monika Winkelmann, Zen Peacemakers, Germany
Karen Harrison, Canadian Buddhist Civil Liberties Association
Jeff Kitzes, Guiding Teacher, Empty Gate Zen Center, Berkeley, CA
Rev. Hoka Chris Fortin, Dharma Heart Sangha, CA
Rev. Kanzan Bruce Fortin, Occidental Laguna Sangha, CA
Anka Rick Spencer, Puerto Compasivo, Puerto Vallarta, México
Rev. Zoketsu Norman Fischer—Founder and teacher Everyday Zen Foundation, CA
Ken Kessel (Zen Master Jok Um), Chogye International Zen Center of New York
Kotatsu John Bailes, One Heart Zen
Rev. Peg Syverson, Appamada, Austin, TX
Roshi Roland Wegmüller, Spiegel Sangha, Switzerland. & Zen Peacemakers
Roshi Barbara Wegmüller, Spiegel Sangha, Switzerland. & Zen Peacemakers
Rev. Genshun Dai-En Bennage, Mt. Equity Zendo, PA
Gil Fronsdal, Insight Meditation Center, Redwood City, CA
Myoko Sara Hunsaker, Monterey Bay Zen Center, CA
K V Soon, Interim Secretary, International Forum on Buddhist-Muslim Relations
Rev. Layla Smith, Mountain Source Sangha, Larkspur, CA
Frank De Waele, Teacher, Zen Sangha, Belgium
Madeline Klyne, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, MA
Yozen Peter Schneider, Abbot, Beginners Mind Zen Center
Guy Armstrong, Guiding Teacher, Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA
Rev. Gesshin Greenwood, Blue Cliff Zen Sangha
Zen Master Ji Haeng/Thom Pastor, Kwan Um School of Zen, Las Vegas, NV
Jamie Cresswell, President, Jamie Cresswell, European Buddhist Union
Rev. Myo Lahey, Hartford Street Zen Center, CA
Rev. Eric Daishin McCabe, Zen Fields, Ames, IA
Rev. Densho Quintero, Magnanimous Mind Zen Temple, Bogota, Colombia
Rev. Shodo Spring, Mountains and Waters Alliance, MN
Eiko Joshin Carolyn Atkinson, Everyday Dharma Zen Center, CA
Jaime McLeod, Treetop Zen Center, ME
Jundo Cohen, Tree Leaf Zendo, Japan
Jisho Sara Siebert, Zen Fields, Ames, IA
Rev. Zuiko Redding, Cedar Rapids Zen Center, IA
Rev Ryushin Andrea Thach, Whatcom Zen, Bellingham, WA
Brian Lesage, Flagstaff Insight Meditation Community, AZ
Rev. Ryushin Paul Haller—Senior Dharma teacher, San Francisco Zen Center, CA
Angie Enji Boissevain, Floating Zendo, San Jose, CA
Rev. Josho Pat Phelan, Chael Hill Zen Center, NC
Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin, Prairie Mountain Zen Center, CO
Rachael Neumann, Publisher, Parallax Press, CA
Myozan Kodo, Zen Buddhism Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Shodo Spring, Mountains and Waters Zen Community, MN
Kokyo Henkel, Head Teacher Santa Cruz Zen Center
Rev. Myo Denis Lahey, Abbot, Hartford Street Zen Center, San Francisco CA
Tonen O’Connor, Resident Priest Emerita, Milwaukee Zen Center
Zenshin Greg Fain, Head of Practice, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, CA
Jisho Warner, Abiding Teacher, Stone Creek Zen Center, CA
Nomon Tim Burnett, Guiding Teacher, Red Cedar Zen Community, Bellingham, WA
Shosan Victoria Austin, Teacher, San Francisco Zen Center
Aarti Tejuja, Director of the Office of Social Engagement, Shambhala International
Ven. Guan Zhen, International Center of Chinese Buddhist Culture and Education, USA
Shinryu Thomson, Teacher, Village Zendo, NY—Centro Zen, La Paz, Bolivia
Yuka Nakamura, Vipassana teacher, Meditation Center Beatenberg, Switzerland
Rev. Daijaku Kinst, Guiding Teacher, Ocean Gate Zen Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Rev. Shinshu Roberts, Guiding Teacher, Ocean Gate Zen Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Seth Zuiho Segall, Zen Priest, White Plains Zen, NY
Rev. Todd Hotai Watson, Guiding Teacher, Walking Tree Zen, Keene, NH
Rev. Seiso Paul Cooper, Two Rivers Zen Community, Narrowsburg, NY
Setsuan Gaelyn Godwin, Abbot,Houston Zen Center, Houston, TX
Rev. Kotoku Ray Crivello, Head Teacher, Deep Spring Temple, Sewickley, PA
Rev. Dr. David Taikyo Morgans, Guiding Teacher, Zen Association Wales
Tomon Lisa Marr, Milwaukee Zen Center, WI
Rev. Myogen Kathryn Stark, Guiding Teacher, Sonoma Valley Zen Group, CA
Peter Seishin Wohl, Spiritual Director, Wild Fox Sangha, Portland, ME
Rev. Hobu Beata Chapman’Head Teacher, Open Zen Community, CA
Rev. Val Meiren Szymanski, Bamboo in the Wind Zen Center, Sunnyvale, CA
Shokan Jordan Thorn, San Francisco Zen Center, CA
Rev. Ann Myosho Kyle Brown, Mendocino Zen Center, CA
Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher, Guiding Teacher, Dharma Dance Sangha, Minneapolis, MN
Noirin Sheahan, Senior Teacher, Satipanya Buddhist Retreat, Wales
Don de Silva, Faith Advisor, Buddhist, University of Westminster and Council Member of the Faiths Forum for London