Home

Archives

AHRC Site

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.7
February 14, 2000


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net

Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.

Dear friends,

We will be publishing in three parts a reflection on 'spirituality and human rights in action' by Atty. Perfecto Caparas, which we perceive as quite relevant given the concerns expressed by some religious on their involvement in human rights issues. Some thoughts providing an insight into the thinking of the current President of Indonesia, useful reflection for life, and the discovery of the profound meaning of life/ the body are the few items lined up for this newsletter.

At a seminar organised in early February by Albert Schweitzer Association Philippines (ASAP)and Asian Human Rights Commission on Child Rights (AHRC)where over 20 government, semi-government and NGOs participated, the sad incident of over 2000 Manila children being rounded up and detained without court orders was reported. We reproduce here statement issued- number 5 - by the participants on this matter. Hope to provide more information on this matter in the next issues. The editor.

Please take note of our new e-mail address: rghr@ahrchk.org

1) Spiritual Warriors
2) Instructions for life - In a Lighter vein
3) The uniqueness of man in Islam - By Abdurrahman Wahid, the President of Indonesia
4) Songs of the Sons and Daughters of Buddha
5) Child detainees without court orders - In Manila
6) Announcements

1) Spiritual Warriors

by Perfecto G. Caparas II

SPIRITUALITY IN ACTION

THE human rights struggle is inevitably a struggle for heightened spirituality among humanity. For how can men and women celebrate their humanity amid conditions of want and fear? Of tyranny and wrath? Of inequality and institutional injustice? And much more, our own spirituality? Dialectically, the struggle for human rights and spirituality are intertwined. We drink from the wellspring of our humanity's basic spirituality the shining inspiration, the brilliance of thought, the strength, the courage of heart, the fiery militancy and passion of our struggle and conviction. And conversely, we advance, through the sheer gift and force of our divinity­the core characteristic of our own spirituality­the human rights struggle aimed to negate, to shatter the walls of human indifference and apathy, which are in themselves, too, byproducts of an unjust social order, together with its own socio-cultural, historic-religious, economic and political underpinnings.

The spiritual human rights warrior pushes for the epochal march of humanity towards its greater levels of spirituality. Hers/his manifests a concrete form of proactive and enlightened spirituality specially aimed at destroying any and all negative social forces and conditions that negate the basic humanity, and spirituality, and, thus, divinity and sacredness of man/woman.

A human rights advocate­in whatever field s/he may be­fact-finding and documentation, rehabilitation and healing, writing, solidarity and networking, or lawyering­serves as a mere channel, an instrument through whom, through whose life and works, the Divinity of Creation flows. For human rights warriors stand up and fight against the forces of injustice and oppression. Her/his goal is to eradicate social structures and conditions which breed man's exploitation of man by man. Her/his noble endeavor is prompted by no other than her/his own Higher Self, the Divine Spark of the Universe. Her struggle is directed at demolishing any aberration that diminishes the humanity of man/woman. Her/his own sensitivity, intuition, the fires of struggle and experiences, inner conflicts and turmoil, fears, weaknesses, inspirations and pains, all these serve to refine herself/himself as a gallant warrior.

2) Instructions for life - In a Lighter vein

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

3) The uniqueness of man in Islam - By Abdurrahman Wahid, the President of Indonesia

"What differentiates human beings form all other creatures? Man has been endowed with a distinct personality that is absent in any other creature. Firstly, man's personality has the composite elements of the absolute truth. Thus a human being has the capacity to fight till death for a cause he or she believes in. The second element is that rational or calculated way of doing things, which is related to the advances made in science and technology. The third element is the capacity for aesthetic appreciation. The fourth is his inherent solidarity with fellow human beings. The composition of these elements is different in infinite ways from man to man, from an individual member of society to another, This then creates the necessity of preserving the individuality of a human being.

In order to achieve goodness and to help realize the unique individuality of each person, Islam enjoins the individual to uphold values such as truthfulness, honesty and humility and to generate an ever increasing well-spring of God-consciousness".

... Muslims now face the dilemma of whether to continue with the status quo which upholds the dominance of religious laws and a rigid moral code accepted by Muslim communities everywhere, and thereby place greater impediments upon the development of humanity and individuality, or reinterpret the teachings of Islam in such a way that its fundamental values and ideals will be able to assist in the realization of humanity."*

* "Aids and Impediments to the Realization Of Humanity According to Islam" by Abdurrahman Wahid, The Human Being, Perspectives form Different Spiritual Traditions, Published by ALIRAN

4) Songs of the Sons and Daughters of Buddha 

translated by Andrew Schelling and Anne Waldman (Shambhala Centaur Editions) Rediscovering the significance of LIFE!

NANDUTTARA

I used to worship
fire, the moon, sun,
all the gods

I used to go down
to the riverbanks
for the bathing rites

I took holy vows
shaved half my head
slept on the ground
wouldn't eat food after sundown

Then I decked myself
out with many ornaments
baths, unguents, massage -
you name it -

Tried everything
to stave off death

I was a slave to my body
Then I really "got" it
saw my body as it really is
went homeless

Lust? Sex?
Forget it

All that binds me head and foot
is loosened

5) Child detainees without court orders - In Manila  

The group wishes to take particular notice of about 2,000 child detainees taken from the streets without any order from the judiciary in the course of roundup operations against street children waged by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units, and the police about three months ago.

This, in the guise of beautification of Metro Manila. Metro Manila can never be beautified as long as there exist children who are detained without any judicial order. In fact, the moral quality of Metro Manila will stand to be condemned by such practices. The group calls for the immediate stop of rounding up street children and for appropriate action to be taken in returning them to their parents and/or guardians. For this purpose, immediate access to these detention centers should be given to lawyers, community and church leaders, and NGOs, especially those dealing with child rights. The group particularly calls on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate these centers as soon as possible and to publish a report relating to this matter on an urgent basis.

6) ANNOUNCEMENT

You may obtain past copies of this E-Newsletter and other related material from RGHR. Those who wish to write articles or letters may contact rghr@ahrchk.org and the address given below.

SOME OF THESE DOCUMENTS WILL APPEAR IN PRINT FORM IN Human Rights SOLIDARITY - A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION