Afghanistan Today

In 629 A.D., at the age of 28, Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang, in his quest to study Buddhism and attain enlightenment, left the city of Chern-An and journeyed towards the birthplace of Buddhism ˇV India. The following year, he crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains and entered what is Afghanistan today.

The Hindu Kush covers more than 400 miles. This final stretch to India is the most dangerous and difficult region. After crossing treacherous mountains and reaching Afghanistan, Master Hsuan Tsang received the kingˇ¦s personal welcome. Master Hsuan Tsang stayed at the kingˇ¦s palace as a guest for a few days before visiting the holy places. According to Master Hsuan Tsangˇ¦s journal, Buddhism flourished in the region and the country erected numerous monasteries and statues of the Buddha. Many people lived by Buddhist principles and provided for the sangha and the poor.

After the United States began retaliatory military strikes against Afghanistan, the history of the region suddenly became the focus of worldwide media attention and discussion. Master Hsuan Tsangˇ¦s Journey to the West was used as a primary source to prove that Buddhism thrived in Afghanistan. Bamiyan, where two giant Buddha statues stood, was a necessary stop on the legendary Silk Route. The city served as a rest stop and a supply center for merchants traveling between China and the Roman Empire.

However, luxurious physical glory rapidly becomes nothing. The two lavishly decorated giant statues of the Buddha have been destroyed by the Taliban. The magnificent monasteries described in Master Hsuan Tsangˇ¦s journal are in ruins after years of war.

This country, previously filled with countless Buddhist monks and temples when witnessed by Master Hsuan Tsang, became the miserable and desolate Afghanistan. Natural and human disasters created millions of refugees. To provide relief and supplies to the Afghan refugees, Tzu Chi is embarking on its second mission to Afghanistan by way of Uzbekistan from the north and Iran from the south. The two teams gathered today at the Still Thought Abode to finalize the details of the mission and to hear the Masterˇ¦s reminders.

Watching as the innocent Afghans left their homes and traveled through the mountains to escape danger, the Master was overwhelmed by unbearable sadness. At the same time, she was grateful to Dr. Edward Artis, Mr. Hsieh Jing-Guai, and others who personally visited and assessed the situation in Afghanistan. ˇ§At the time, the U.S. was still carrying out air strikes, and the region was exceedingly dangerous. I worried about the volunteers day and night. With the current situation, how can I stop worrying about this mission? Please be extra careful, especially with all the land mines still in Afghanistan.ˇ¨

ˇ§The most important principle in saving lives is to watch out for your own safety.ˇ¨ Like a loving mother, the Master reminded everyone to be careful. ˇ§Proceed with caution and safety. Return with your health and with joy.ˇ¨

Mr. Wang Chih-Hong, the editor-in-chief of the journal, Rhythms Monthly, is currently working on a book entitled The Minority Races in China. This work follows his recently completed project, the childrenˇ¦s version of the book To Be Acquainted With the Island of the South, commissioned by the Congressional Aborigine Council. The Master believes that such cultural projects should emphasize the human and cultural aspects of life. Stories documenting those who made important contributions to society merit particular effort and attention.

The Master further added that aside from human beings, the Earth also hosts animals, plants, and more. Life has no hierarchy of importance. However, since humans possess the most destructive forces, efforts should concentrate on elevating human culture to protect the Earth. Hopefully positive qualities of humanity can be cultivated through the humanities.

ˇ§The key to presenting human cultures is to convey deeply profound and complex ideas in simple and easily understood terms that people can translate into action. This is the goal of education.ˇ¨