As we gather this weekend in Boulder, Colorado for a weekend dedicated to facing extremism wherever it arises, a message from Hozan Alan Senauke in response to the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka.

Grieving for Sri Lanka

Hatred never ceases through hatred
It ceases only through love.
This is an eternal law.

—Dhammapada, verse 5

Our deepest compassion and sympathy goes out to the victims of Easter Sunday bombings across Sri Lanka, to their families, and to an entire nation in grief. The world is grieving with you. More than 350 people have been killed, with 500 more injured. We wonder what it will take for people to learn that differences and conflicts are never resolved by cascading violence?

Regardless of who is held responsible for these atrocities, our concern is based on compassion for all whose lives have been torn apart by these acts of extreme violence and by our unshakeable opposition to all forms of hatred, murder and terror. Our nonviolent stand does not arise from any one religious tradition, but from a universal awareness that life is precious to all.

As western Buddhist practitioners, teachers, and clergy, we depend on the Buddha’s ancient teachings on non-violence and love even in time of fear and uncertainty. Of course, we wish to see those responsible for these bombings held accountable in courts of law. At the same time, we urge the leaders of all faith communities in Sri Lanka and around the world to guide their congregations with wisdom and compassion in breaking the chains of violence here and now.

—Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke
for Clear View Project
and Buddhist Humanitarian Project
23 April 2019