Women in Buddhism: Suu Kyi, Poonsuk recognised

Activists awarded for outstanding courage in face of injustice, suffering

March 7 (The Nation) - Aung San Suu Kyi and Thanpuying Poonsuk Banomyong have received a UN "Outstanding Women in Buddhism" award for their peaceful courage in the face of grave personal hardship and political crises.

The two women were among 20 award-recipients named at a ceremony at the United Nations Building, Bangkok, yesterday, to mark the 2005 United Nations International Women's Day which takes place today.

Suu Kyi of Burma and Thanphuying Poonsuk of Thailand have similar experiences of political crises in their respective countries: they have campaigned for freedom and democracy and they have been imprisoned.

Poonsuk, 93, had to live in exile for decades, while Suu Kyi, 60, is now under house arrest for a third time.

Suu Kyi is recognised for the example she has given in peaceful conflict resolution and equanimity in the face of suffering and injustice. She has been held since May 2003 following clashes between her supporters and pro-government forces in Northern Burma. The first time the Burmese junta placed her under house arrest, she was detained for six years, between 1989 and 1995.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD Party) won a landslide victory in the general election in 1990, but the junta refused to recognise the result. The second period of Suu Kyi's house arrest was for 20 months, between July 2000 and May 2002.

In her book "Letters from Burma", Suu Kyi refers to the first time she was under house arrest as "Days of Rest" and pointed out that she started each day with an hour of meditation. On the subject of gender, Suu Kyi says it is not the prerogative of men alone to bring light to the world.

"Women with their capacity for compassion and self-sacrifice, their courage and perseverance, have done much to dissipate the darkness of intolerance and hate, suffering and despair," Suu Kyi was quoted as saying.

Poonsuk, widow of Thailand's first senior statesman and former prime minister Pridi Banomyong, is honoured for her work over the last sixty years to bring peace and hope to the younger generations.

Poonsuk always supported her husband, who led the 1932 peaceful revolution in Siam. During World War II, she joined the Free Thai Movement, resisting the invading Japanese side-by-side with Pridi and other Thais to bring peace to the Thai people and the rest of the world.

When a political storm was brewing around Pridi, Poonsuk calmly endured injustice several times. She was accused of offences against the internal and external security of the Kingdom and detained between November 1952 and February 1953. Poonsuk refused to give in, observing the teachings of the Buddha that "Dhamma always protects those who practice Dhamma". Now 93, she is president of the Pridi Banomyong Foundation, established to encourage young people to continue the goodwill and work of the older generation in preserving independence, freedom and democracy.

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga was honoured for her encouragement and support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in her country. Nepalese activist Stella Tamang also received an award for her role as an international facilitator for peace and conflict resolution in the last seven years.

Well-respected Dhamma writer Upasika Ranchuan Intrakamhaeng is recognized for her work in promoting peace. She has penned more than 20 Dhamma books to promote a life of true peace and happiness. She has instilled Thailand with a love of reading by helping to establish libraries, schools and literacy promotion programmes.

Among other women to receive awards were: Sister Jotika Hermes, the abbess of Amsterdam's Buddhavihara Temple; Bhikkuni Dr Gotami, who established a Buddhist temple in Massachusetts and counsels Southeast Asian immigrants from Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam in need of help; Bhikkuni Sang Won Sunim who founded her own temple Bo Myung Sa in Seon Hwak Won in Korea and established an international sisterhood for world peace in Japan. Suchinta Bhikkuni who serves the Sri Lankan community in the USA and is committed to internationally supporting women's higher ordination.

Dr Thynn Thynn, a Dhamma Burmese teacher who established the Sae Taw Winn II Dhamma Centre in California and wrote a book entitled "Living Meditation: Living Insight", which was translated into Dutch, German and Vietnamese.

Bhikkuni Hong-Xiang Shih, the abbess of Jing-Ci Temple in Taipei, who established exchange visits by nuns from her temple and those in Korea; Maechee Arun Pet-Urai, has dedicated her life to promoting the status of maechees in Thailand and served as the Secretary of the Thai Maechee Institute from 1981-1993; Nurse Vilas Porphraphai who has devoted her life to service at Maharaj Hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat, setting up a medical equipment centre to reduce equipment shortages, and developing new equipment to meet the specific demands of patients.

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