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A tribute to Dr. Michael Aris



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A tribute to Dr. Michael Aris
                                                                         =
                                                   27 March 1999
                                                                         =
                                                         Delft
=20
Dr. Michael Aris has contributed so much to our cause in a very special =
way, set an example for us, what is possible to=20
achieve, even in an extreme case, seemingly impossible for a human being =
to make it. We respect and thank him for it and he will always be =
remembered by us for his invaluable contribution to our cause.
=20
Reflecting the past, all series of events going through my mind, make me =
recite a piece I once read from the book entitled 'Liberty of the mind'. =
It is this, "The purpose of the attack is the old one: to produce chaos. =
In the past, each man was vulnerable if he is alone; now men and women =
are vulnerable also in their collectivity. If the materialists had their =
way, we should be one, in effect, one collective mind to be possessed. =
The chaos to be produced is not material chaos only, for wars and =
economic confusion are but means to a more dreadful end. The victory =
aimed at is an ultimate chaos of the world-mind, insanity by the failure =
of distinctions and the fantasies of power, a blur of fragmented reason =
in a spinning, causeless, faithless and ungovernable dust.
=20
The victory cannot be achieved as long as the liberties of the mind =
survive, for it is inconsistent with them. The greatest source of danger =
is in man's failure to recognize that they, and not overt liberties =
only, are being attacked, and that the means of attack, are becoming =
increasingly direct. The battle to be fought is not between party and =
party or even, at root, between those whose emphasis is upon faith and =
those whose emphasis is upon reason. It is rather, a struggle, =
transcending all differences but one, for the validity of the human =
mind, its right to distinguish between good and evil, and its power to =
make journeys in the light of that distinction. Faith and reason are =
companions on an infinite journey. There are no limits, except in our =
human capacity, to the extension of either."
=20
Having said that we are most indebted to Dr. Michael Aris for showing us =
the way what is possible by simply making his own journey in the light =
of that distinction. By doing so, he had lived his very life in the most =
honourable way, if I may say.

And to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we adore and love her more with total =
respect for the fact that she has conformed her deed with her own words. =
We all know that she often remarked, 'her personal plight was =
insignificant compared to many hundreds of others  -- many languishing =
in state jails'. Last week, we overseas Burmese activists have =
approached international community and have declared our strong, =
consistent, unfailing and continuous support to her leadership =
regardless of any decisions she may take for her personal life. Yet =
again, she was able to extend her faith and reason for us, the Burmese =
peoples.
=20
May Dr. Michael Aris soon reach Nibbana. May Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be =
peaceful and strong by the power of triple gem.
=20
Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein
WRTC
 .........................................................................=
 .........................................................................=
 .................
Dhamma dana
Sir Edwin Arnold in 'The Light of Asia' states the five precepts in his =
own words:
=20
'Kill not - for pity's sake - lest ye slay;
The meanest thing upon its upward way.
=20
Give freely and receive, but take from none;
By greed, or force, or fraud, what is his own.
=20
Bear not false witness, slander not nor lie;
Truth is the speech of inward purity.
=20
Shun drugs and drinks, which work the wit abuse;
Clear minds, clean bodies, need no Soma juice*.
=20
Touch not thy neighbour's wife, neither commit;
Sins of the flesh unlawful and unfit.
=20
(Soma - name of the plant avestan haoma, the juice of which was the most =
important ingredient to form the beverage.)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D  End =
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=20
=20
=20

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D5><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
size=3D5><STRONG>A tribute to Dr. Michael =
Aris</STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT=20
size=3D3>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
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nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
27 March=20
1999<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
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bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
Delft</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>Dr. =
Michael Aris=20
has contributed so much to our cause in a very special way, set an =
example for=20
us, what is possible to </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3>achieve, even in an=20
extreme case, seemingly impossible for a human being to make it. We =
respect and=20
thank him for it and he will always be remembered by us for his =
invaluable=20
contribution to our cause.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3>Reflecting the=20
past, all series of events going through my mind, make me recite a piece =
I once=20
read from the book entitled 'Liberty of the mind'. It is this, &quot;The =
purpose=20
of the attack is the old one: to produce chaos. In the past, each man =
was=20
vulnerable if he is alone; now men and women are vulnerable also in =
their=20
collectivity. If the materialists had their way, we should be one, in =
effect,=20
one collective mind to be possessed. The chaos to be produced is not =
material=20
chaos only, for wars and economic confusion are but means to a more =
dreadful=20
end. The victory aimed at is an ultimate chaos of the world-mind, =
insanity by=20
the failure of distinctions and the fantasies of power, a blur of =
fragmented=20
reason in a spinning, causeless, faithless and ungovernable=20
dust.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>The =
victory cannot=20
be achieved as long as the liberties of the mind survive, for it is =
inconsistent=20
with them. The greatest source of danger is in man's failure to =
recognize that=20
they, and not overt liberties only, are being attacked, and that the =
means of=20
attack, are becoming increasingly direct. The battle to be fought is not =
between=20
party and party or even, at root, between those whose emphasis is upon =
faith and=20
those whose emphasis is upon reason. It is rather, a struggle, =
transcending all=20
differences but one, for the validity of the human mind, its right to=20
distinguish between good and evil, and its power to make journeys in the =
light=20
of that distinction. Faith and reason are companions on an infinite =
journey.=20
There are no limits, except in our human capacity, to the extension of=20
either.&quot;</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3>Having said that we=20
are most indebted to Dr. Michael Aris for showing us the way what is =
possible by=20
simply making his own journey in the light of that distinction. By doing =
so, he=20
had lived his very life in the most honourable way, if I may =
say.<BR><BR>And to=20
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we adore and love her more with total respect for =
the fact=20
that she has conformed her deed with her own words. We all know that she =
often=20
remarked, 'her personal plight was insignificant compared to many =
hundreds of=20
others&nbsp; -- many languishing in state jails'. Last week, we overseas =
Burmese=20
activists have approached international community and have declared our =
strong,=20
consistent, unfailing and continuous support to her leadership =
regardless of any=20
decisions she may take for her <U>personal life</U>. Yet again, she was =
able to=20
extend her faith and reason for us, the Burmese =
peoples.</FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3><STRONG>May Dr.=20
Michael Aris soon reach Nibbana. May Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be peaceful =
and strong=20
by the power of triple gem.</STRONG></FONT></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3><EM>Dr. Khin Ni Ni=20
Thein<BR>WRTC</EM></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>................................................................=
 .........................................................................=
 ..........................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3>Dhamma dana<BR>Sir=20
Edwin Arnold in 'The Light of Asia' states the five precepts in his own=20
words:</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>'Kill =
not - for=20
pity's sake - lest ye slay;<BR>The meanest thing upon its upward=20
way.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>Give =
freely and=20
receive, but take from none;<BR>By greed, or force, or fraud, what is =
his=20
own.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>Bear =
not false=20
witness, slander not nor lie;<BR>Truth is the speech of inward=20
purity.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>Shun =
drugs and=20
drinks, which work the wit abuse;<BR>Clear minds, clean bodies, need no =
Soma=20
juice*.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>Touch =
not thy=20
neighbour's wife, neither commit;<BR>Sins of the flesh unlawful and=20
unfit.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT size=3D3>(Soma =
- name of the=20
plant avestan haoma, the juice of which was the most important =
ingredient to=20
form the beverage.)</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D&nbsp; <STRONG>End=20
</STRONG>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D5><STRONG></STRONG></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D5><STRONG></STRONG></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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