Yoga, Buddhism and Cambodian Concerns - Part 1 - Peace is the Foundation

One of the disturbing aspects of newspapers and what they report is that it is generally bad or negative.

They tell us of corruption, exploitation, sexual servitude and riots and violence in our own or other countries, but in order to really know these places and in many ways ourselves better, we have to do further research or go to the place that we have been reading about and see it beyond our own conditioned states.

Much of what we hear about Cambodia in news reports does focus on the negative and can lead one to have a very cynical and pessimistic assessment of this country and its people.

Certainly, it is true that in Cambodia we see the same kind of greed and ignorance that we find in all countries of the world, whether they are developed or not, Asian or not, or Buddhist or not.

But one thing that Cambodia does have now is peace and many Cambodians are using that peace as a foundation for striving to greater knowledge and a better life.

The fact is that those of us who are fortunate enough to have been born in and come from the west where we have freedom and a multitude of opportunities take peace for granted or forget just how significant it is to have on a daily basis, year in and year out.

But what is disturbing is that many of us do not see this and use this peace as a foundation for ways that are demeaning to others or destructive to ourselves.

Perhaps what it is that we need to be more mindful about and strive for is cultivating a degree of inner peace, where we lack a daily need for stimulants or experiences through the senses that may hurt ourselves or be harmful, disrespectful or show a lack of understanding to others.

And at the same time we should remember that peace does not necessarily mean the absence of pain, but a better understanding about ourselves, others and the life experience that we have had and continue to have.

This peace comes from various things, such as understanding and accepting our roles, responsibilities and duties, knowing how to, and keeping our mind and body healthy and balanced, and having a gentle and respectful approach and attitude to others.

This writer's recent trip to Cambodia, his fourteenth over the last two years, reminded him of how the Khmer people are using their experience with peace as a way to learn and grow as people and a society.

It also reminded him somewhat sadly that many of the Khmer people are dealing with the same issues, attitudes, thoughts, feelings and mental, verbal and physical actions that we in the west have always dealt with, experienced and practiced.

There is gossip, communication breakdowns, abusive husbands and unhappy marriages and anger and judgment instead of balance, wisdom and an appreciative attitude to what peace and life offers one.

But fortunately, in Cambodia, other parts of Asia, and the west, there are people who can look beyond themselves at one time or another or see their own ignorance, and seek out ways to weaken it and improve themselves.

This improvement is not necessarily one that is brought about on a material or social level but instead one that is brought about on a mental level, in how our consciousness operates and works.

For all people of the world, Yoga and Buddhism can serve as facilitators for this greater mindfulness about consciousness and the things that affect it while at the same time bringing about a positive change in it.

The Khmer people, like people throughout the world, vary in their reaction to and interest to either Yoga or Buddhism.

Almost all of them, just as those in all countries and cultures of the world just want to have a relationship with or flirt and talk with those of the opposite sex, enjoy their time with their friends and shopping at the market, watch television at home as they enjoy the comfort and sensual aspects of their life and raise their children in a way that will lead to a more enjoyable life for them while at the same time having a happy home and family life.

This is the way that most of us can be and what most all of us want, regardless of our ethic group and country of origin.

Yoga and Buddhism, though their teachings and practices can provide many with something new and better, something that may be needed for them at any particular time and point in their life.

Thankfully for the Khmer people, they now have the peace that is needed if they want to pursue such a thing.

For those in the west, we have generally always had this peace, but have not always been mindful enough about what such an opportunity offered us.

Maybe if we see the horror that happens among others in other parts of the world and in our own country through newspaper and other media reports on a daily basis, we will not become fearful, anxious and negative about others and the world, but grow in appreciation and wisdom about what we have and in that that, see our own ignorance and lack of balance and peace more clearly, and make some sincere effort to change it to something better.

We always remind readers and those who are interested that Yoga and Buddhism and the teachings and practices that make them up can provide a means for this change to something better.

2005 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)