U Agga Nyana in Utica Monastery - January 2010

 The story of how U Agga Nyana managed to come to the USA is told in an extraordinary radio piece that was just broadcast on National Public Radio.  The title of the story, Utica – City with a Warm Heart, is part of the series called State of the RE:Union.

The story gives a perfect explanation to the question frequently asked of the monks, “Why did you settle in Utica?”  It begins:

“A couple of decades ago, Utica, New York, was dying, by even its residents diagnosis: a popular bumper sticker in the ‘90s read “Last One Out of Utica, Please Turn Out the Lights.” Once a bustling textile city perched on edge of the Erie Canal, Utica lost its mills in the mid-20th century, and has been losing population ever since. But something has changed in recent years, with a surprising influx of refugees to this part of snowy, cold upstate New York—the newcomers have given Utica hope for second chance.”

If you click on this link, you will visit the radio program’s website and you will be able to listen to the whole 50-minute program or just to Segment C, which is the story of U Agga’s escape from Burma and settlement in Utica.

Get ready for an amazing story of how the American Dream is still working in a small city.

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Helen, Susan & the monks. Photo by Steve Latimer

Members of a New York City Amnesty International Group (9/280) first visited the Metta Parami Monastery in July.

Helen Thomas Williams, a group member wrote: “The purpose of the meeting was for the two groups to get to know each other better and to see ways of helping each other. The history of the development of AI Group 9/280 and the history of how the monks arrived in Brooklyn were shared.

In addition, over the course of approximately two hours, we discussed a range of topics including U.S. policy toward Burma, what life is like for the monks who received asylum in the U.S., the likelihood of a fundamental change to the government in Burma, the monks’ efforts to assist monks imprisoned in Burma, the monk’s hope to build a monastery in the U.S. that could house those who’ve been dispersed around the country, and Group 9/280′s efforts on behalf of AI-designated prisoner of conscience Myo Min Zaw (MMZ).”

The piece is posted on the Burma Relief blog, posted by member Andrea Wolper.  Click here for a link to the post.

Some members of the group have continued to come regularly to permit the monks to practice their English conversation skills.  These visits are most welcome, helpful and appreciated by the monks.

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On July 3, 2011 the monks of the Metta Parami Monastery held its first Novitiation and Ordination Ceremony.  Three men and seven young men and boys participated in the event, which began the day before with shaving of the heads and traditional ceremonies and prayers.  The ceremony continued through the day on July 3, with prayers and meditations, and with families and friends joining in with donations of food.  The novice monks remained at the monastery for several days as they continued their practice and study.  The photos below are from the July 3 event, which included the ceremony of the new monks putting on their robes for the first time.  This honor was appreciated by the monks and their families.

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Monks at home by Linda Rosier/News

The ABMA monks were recently featured in an article that appeared in the New York Daily News.

The article written by Daily News Writer, Dino Grandoni, explained that: “Three orange-robed Burmese Buddhist monks have made their home in Bedford-Stuyvesant for nearly a year and are gradually adapting to life in Brooklyn.”

Click here for a link to the article, A Monastery Grows in Brooklyn.

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From April 2 – 4, 2011 U Pyinya Zawta and U Agga Nyana joined in the US Campaign for Burma’s National Organizing Meeting in Washington, DC.  On Saturday April 2 they participated in the Plenary Session and in Workshops on Grassroots Campaigns, Advocacy and Online Community Organizing.

Speakers included officers and staff members of the USCB, Dr. Thaung Htun of the Burma Fund, Dr. Parveen Parmar of Physicians for Human Rights, Myo Myint, former Burmese soldier, NLD member and political prisoner, Joseph Yun, US State Department, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and Dr. Mike Green of Georgetown University.

On Sunday April 3 they attended a workshop on Advocacy Training, and on Monday, April 4 they, along with other New York State residents, met at the Senate Office buildings with staff members of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Charles Schumer.

They advocated for no cuts to humanitarian aid in the US budget, for ongoing support of the democracy movement, for the special protection of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma.

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From Saturday March 19 until Sunday March 20 The monks of the Metta Parami Monastery and other invited monks recited the Patthana Desana prayer to receive wisdom and protection.  The monks took turns reading from the Pali Canon sacred books for 24 hours.  They were assisted by a group of devout lay readers.

The supporters also participated in cooking and sharing the traditional Hta-Ma-Ne, a sticky sweet rice treat.  Good food was shared by all on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

(Click on Photo for larger image)

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The Amnesty International New York City Group 9/280
Presents a Very Special Event

A Conversation with Three Monks:  The Struggle for Democracy in Burma 

Monday, April 18, 2011
7:00PM – 9:00PM

Columbia University Law School
435 West 116th Street
(corner of West 116th Street & Amsterdam Avenue)
Jerome Green Hall, Room #101 (Ground Floor)
New York City

Guest Speakers
Three Exiled Monks from the All Burma Monks’ Alliance

U Pyinya Zawta, U Gawsita, U Agga 

Translator: Aung Moe Win

Organized by Cinda Lawrence

Description:  The New York City Amnesty International Group 9/280 is privileged to present three monks representing the All Burma Monks’ Alliance who will speak about their experiences in the 2007 Saffron Revolution protests in Burma and about their current work  to support refugee monks inside and outside of Burma and to build a free nation for all of Burma’s people.

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On Saturday November 20 the Kathina Ceremony was held at the Metta Parami Monastery.  This traditional Theravada Buddhist festival is celebrated by supporters bringing and donating gifts, especially new robes, to the monks.  A wonderful meal of homemade Burmese food was served to the resident monks and their guests.  About 75 supporters then shared the meal and enjoyed the festival together.

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During their trip to Canada, Burma’s Saffron monks explored the relevance of Burmese Buddhism in the struggle for democracy.

The Saffron monks from the 2007 uprising, U Pyinya Zawta and U Agga Nyana of the All Burma Monks’ Alliance left for six days journey to Canada on October 14^th to participate in discussions on the non-violent political movement and Buddhism inside Burma. The trip was sponsored by members of Centre of Gravity Sangha, a community of Yoga & Buddhist practitioners, and Burmese students in Toronto, Canada.

The activities began on October 15^th when U Pyinya Zawta, U Agga Nyana, and U Kovida, a cofounder of International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO), visited the Canadian Parliament and Foreign ministry with the arrangements made by Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), to rally support for the Burmese democracy movement.

During the visit the monks were able to express their gratitude for Canada’s support– for investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma, for conferring honorary Canadian citizenship to Aung San Suu Kyi, and for highlighting Burma at the G8 summit. They also urged the Canadian government to continue to support the Burmese democracy movement as an international leader, first by rejecting the illegal 2010 election in Burma, and then to pressure the Burmese junta to abide by the UN’s call for a peaceful reconciliation with the opposition parties, and freeing of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

While in Canada, they met with Burmese activists to assess the current political situation inside Burma and made plans for future activities. The Venerable monks were able to visit and chant Buddhist prayers for the gathering of Canadian Burmese families. In addition to prayer services, they also gave talks on Buddhist teaching to remind the supporters of their heritage, and of their shared responsibility for Burma’s cause.

Even though Buddhism strives toward attainment of spiritual enlightenment, it is concerned not only with escaping the suffering in future lives, but also with nurturing a peaceful world at present.  Monks in Burma have been following the teaching of Buddha and serving the welfare of the people for twenty five hundred years.  But, when the current military regime in Burma has accused the Burmese monks of striving for political power instead, the monks are compelled to speak up and educate those who are unaware of the true mission of Buddhism in Burma.

Democracy has been thriving in the US and Europe for over two hundred years. But Buddhism, a fundamentally democratic and tolerant philosophy, has existed for over twenty five hundred years. The tolerance for free and constructive criticism of Buddha and Buddhist teachings is an evidence of its democratic practices, including within Burma’s Sangha.

In speaking of the current situation in Burma, the monks believe that the military junta is trying to mislead everyone by calling the fraudulent 2010 election to prolong its power. As neighboring countries such as China, India, and Thailand are looking out for themselves only, and giving support to this military junta, Burma continues its path of decline. The United Nations has failed to live up to its promise to help Burma, but now the time has come for the UN to take decisive measures against the military regime in Burma. During the conclusion of the ceremony, the monks answered questions and encouraged the Canadian activist community to continue its support for the Burmese democracy movement and to denounce the false election and its outcome.

U Pyinya Zawta is scheduled to speak at the Engaged Buddhism Conference on October 18 in Toronto.

Toronto Engaged Buddhism Conference