Meet Aloka, the rescue dog who has captured hearts across the United States by joining Buddhist monks on an inspiring 3,700 km (2,300 mile) peace march. Over 120 days, the march spans 10 US states, promoting peace, compassion, and mindfulness.

Rescue Dog: Meet Aloka, the Peace Dog Leading Buddhist Monks Across America

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently appointed a hardline Buddhist monk, known for his anti-Muslim stance, as head of a task force for the establishment of ‘One Country, One law' concept.

Sri Lankan Prez appoints controversial Buddhist Monk to head 'One Country, One Law' task-force

His bald head glistening with sweat, Zhi Xiang peers into the eyes of a stray dog whose coat has become matted in heavy rain and says soothingly: "Let me cut your hair, cutie."

The bedraggled pooch is among scores of dogs hauled off the streets of Shanghai by police and packed in metal cages in a foul-smelling holding area.&nbsp;

More than 20 puppies are also crammed into a yellow plastic crate; one dog is dragged in while inside a tied bag.

But for Zhi's intervention, they will all be put down in a matter of days.

But Zhi is no ordinary animal rescuer: he is a Buddhist monk and will give these dogs a new life either at his ancient monastery or at a shelter he runs in the Chinese city.

He already has nearly 8,000 dogs to feed and care for. A few hundred will eventually be resettled in Europe or North America. 
 
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This picture taken on May 26, 2021 shows Buddhist monk Zhi Xiang feeding rescued cats in Shanghai. (AFP Photo)

"I have to rescue them because if I don't, they will die for sure," said the 51-year-old, who temporarily discards his monk's robes for an orange workman's suit as he gives vaccinations to dishevelled dogs fresh off the streets.

Driven by his faith, Zhi has been rescuing animals -- mostly dogs but also cats and other strays -- since 1994.

It started when he began treating cats hit by vehicles on the road. Back then, there were few stray animals, but that has changed markedly in the last four or five years, he said.

China's growing wealth has seen a boom in the pet market but some people simply abandon them when they do not want to care for them anymore, said Zhi.

"This is not caused by people who dislike dogs, or by the government, but by so-called dog lovers who don't have proper animal-caring knowledge," said Zhi.

Breeding among strays is causing their numbers to explode.

State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year.

Dogs and Buddhas

With help from volunteers and his small workforce, Zhi keeps several hundred dogs at his Bao'en Temple, where he is the head monk and golden Buddhas look on serenely against a backdrop of howling pooches.

The temple, which is still a place of worship, also hosts a room filled with 200 cats, along with a ragtag collection of chickens, geese and peacocks.

The air is an incongruous mix of animal smells and burning incense.

Zhi keeps mostly sick dogs there and the rest go to a bigger facility elsewhere. The lucky ones will find a new home with new owners.

The unlucky ones, about 30 percent of the dogs he rescues, die of disease or were already too sick to save.

Zhi is not a trained vet but his love of animals, in the way he strokes, soothes and kisses them, is obvious.

The continually growing number of unwanted animals is a huge financial strain.

Zhi, who gets up at 4:00 am each day, gets no money from the government. He has borrowed from his parents and other monks and receives handouts from donors.

He estimates that annual costs are about 12 million Yuan ($2 million) and he needs 60 tonnes of dog food every month.

"The problem is that I can't borrow any more money now," he said. 
 
<img alt="Dogs" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b312b37-1ca3-4201-b684-da9cb27deed1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%289%29_48.jpg" /> 
 
This picture taken on May 26, 2021 shows rescued dogs inside a cage in Shanghai. State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year.(AFP Photo)

Tearful farewell

Since 2019, Zhi has been sending some of the strays abroad to be resettled overseas.

Volunteers who can speak English use social media to reach an international audience, and about 300 dogs have been placed in the United States, Canada and various European countries including Germany.

The memory of those lucky dogs -- their journey from the streets and almost certain death to a new life -- brings tears to his eyes.

"I think they're very happy so I feel it's worthwhile," he said. "But of course I miss them."

One recent Saturday morning, Zhi was at Shanghai's international airport to drop off a dog to a passenger who volunteered to take it to a new home in the US city of Seattle.

Wearing his monks' robes, Zhi holds the small dog in his arms until the last minute, muttering "goodbye, goodbye".

He wipes away tears as the woman and dog disappear through the departure gate.

"I have a dream that one day when I have some free time, I want to go abroad and visit them, take photos with every dog that I rescued," he said.&nbsp;

"So when I get old and can't walk, I have these photos to look at."

His bald head glistening with sweat, Zhi Xiang peers into the eyes of a stray dog whose coat has become matted in heavy rain and says soothingly: "Let me cut your hair, cutie.

His bald head glistening with sweat, Zhi Xiang peers into the eyes of a stray dog whose coat has become matted in heavy rain and says soothingly: "Let me cut your hair, cutie." The bedraggled pooch is among scores of dogs hauled off the streets of Shanghai by police and packed in metal cages in a foul-smelling holding area. More than 20 puppies are also crammed into a yellow plastic crate; one dog is dragged in while inside a tied bag. But for Zhi's intervention, they will all be put down in a matter of days. But Zhi is no ordinary animal rescuer: he is a Buddhist monk and will give these dogs a new life either at his ancient monastery or at a shelter he runs in the Chinese city. He already has nearly 8,000 dogs to feed and care for. A few hundred will eventually be resettled in Europe or North America. This picture taken on May 26, 2021 shows Buddhist monk Zhi Xiang feeding rescued cats in Shanghai. (AFP Photo) "I have to rescue them because if I don't, they will die for sure," said the 51-year-old, who temporarily discards his monk's robes for an orange workman's suit as he gives vaccinations to dishevelled dogs fresh off the streets. Driven by his faith, Zhi has been rescuing animals -- mostly dogs but also cats and other strays -- since 1994. It started when he began treating cats hit by vehicles on the road. Back then, there were few stray animals, but that has changed markedly in the last four or five years, he said. China's growing wealth has seen a boom in the pet market but some people simply abandon them when they do not want to care for them anymore, said Zhi. "This is not caused by people who dislike dogs, or by the government, but by so-called dog lovers who don't have proper animal-caring knowledge," said Zhi. Breeding among strays is causing their numbers to explode. State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year. Dogs and Buddhas With help from volunteers and his small workforce, Zhi keeps several hundred dogs at his Bao'en Temple, where he is the head monk and golden Buddhas look on serenely against a backdrop of howling pooches. The temple, which is still a place of worship, also hosts a room filled with 200 cats, along with a ragtag collection of chickens, geese and peacocks. The air is an incongruous mix of animal smells and burning incense. Zhi keeps mostly sick dogs there and the rest go to a bigger facility elsewhere. The lucky ones will find a new home with new owners. The unlucky ones, about 30 percent of the dogs he rescues, die of disease or were already too sick to save. Zhi is not a trained vet but his love of animals, in the way he strokes, soothes and kisses them, is obvious. The continually growing number of unwanted animals is a huge financial strain. Zhi, who gets up at 4:00 am each day, gets no money from the government. He has borrowed from his parents and other monks and receives handouts from donors. He estimates that annual costs are about 12 million Yuan ($2 million) and he needs 60 tonnes of dog food every month. "The problem is that I can't borrow any more money now," he said. This picture taken on May 26, 2021 shows rescued dogs inside a cage in Shanghai. State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year.(AFP Photo) Tearful farewell Since 2019, Zhi has been sending some of the strays abroad to be resettled overseas. Volunteers who can speak English use social media to reach an international audience, and about 300 dogs have been placed in the United States, Canada and various European countries including Germany. The memory of those lucky dogs -- their journey from the streets and almost certain death to a new life -- brings tears to his eyes. "I think they're very happy so I feel it's worthwhile," he said. "But of course I miss them." One recent Saturday morning, Zhi was at Shanghai's international airport to drop off a dog to a passenger who volunteered to take it to a new home in the US city of Seattle. Wearing his monks' robes, Zhi holds the small dog in his arms until the last minute, muttering "goodbye, goodbye". He wipes away tears as the woman and dog disappear through the departure gate. "I have a dream that one day when I have some free time, I want to go abroad and visit them, take photos with every dog that I rescued," he said. "So when I get old and can't walk, I have these photos to look at."

This Buddhist monk has rescued thousands of animals in China

The Monk Who Wants A Sinhala Government In Sri Lanka Controversial Buddhist Monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero says the majority Sinhala community in Sri Lanka can learn from Indian PM's stance on terror. Speaking exclusively to WION's Ramesh Ramachandran, he even asks the government to leave the fight against Islamist extremism to the monks. Here's a report

Gravitas: WION Exclusive: Sinhala community can learn from Indian PM: Lankan monk

A controversial Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, says that the majority Sinhala community can learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of zero-tolerance to terrorism.&nbsp;

"India’s action is important to us and if we become prey of Islamic terrorism it will be a threat for India as well. So, the understanding of the leaders is important," he tells in an exclusive interview to WION's Ramesh Ramachandran.&nbsp;

Gnanasara Thero is the general secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, a group comprising the Sinhala Buddhist clergy. He was released from the prison in May this year after president Maithripala Sirisena pardoned him.

The monk says that the Bodu Bala Sena has not decided who to support in the forthcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka.

Watch:&nbsp;Sinhala community can learn from Indian PM: Lankan monk

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WION: What did the July 7 meeting of the Buddhist clergy in Kandy decide?

Gnanasara Thero: On July 7, we held a convention in Kandy for a purpose. As a race, Sinhalas are divided due to party politics. Owing to this division, the (Sinhala) race has become weak and it has allowed extremist forces to operate in this country. Now is the time to resolve these issues and eradicate the fear of death. So, the convention was held to educate the Buddhist clergy. It was successful. There is no possibility of defeating extremism through politics. So, we proposed to establish a programme where the Sinhalese get stronger. We came out with 10 proposals on July 7 and plan to take it islandwide.

WION: Who will the Bodu Bala Sena support in the forthcoming presidential elections and the reasons therefor?

Gnanasara Thero: At this moment, the discussions are on about holding provincial council, general and presidential elections. No final decision has been reached. The political situation is complicated. None of the main political parties is able to announce their candidate. We don’t know if it will be a common candidate. We don’t have any faith in them and we believe that they all have failed. If you take the 225 members in the parliament, all are accused of some things. So, citizens are lobbying differently where some expect new names and some new faces which is new to politics. Such people are coming up and they have started publishing their policies. We have no anxiety even though it is at a complicated juncture. Why should we get excited if the main political parties are unable to find their candidates yet? For us, it is important to have a person who could change old laws, increase security, is capable of taking bold decisions to eradicate Islamic extremism, and is capable of establishing unity according to Buddha’s teaching. It should be a society based on trust for all citizens. It should be a free country for all. So, we want a Sinhalese to win with a Sinhala majority vote. Protection for all ethnicities can be assured only with such a move, to which we are committed.

WION: You are reported to have said on July 7 that a Sinhala government should be formed, that the Sinhalese need to unite politically, economically and culturally, and that there is a need to protect Sri Lanka from Islam. Please elaborate on it.

Gnanasara Thero: Sinhalese were never racists. When the Tamils in the north, east and the central hills were attacked culturally, the rulers were unable to find a solution. These Tamils in thousands were converted into Christianity and destroyed the Hindu culture. On the other hand, Hindus are getting Islamised. Not only that, the traditional Muslims are now moving towards Arabic Islamisation. Wahhabi groups with abundant funds operating within the government influence national decisions. We see the unity in India where they all say “Bharat Mata ki Jai". We see how they love their country. We also need that patriotism in Sri Lanka. We need a leader trusted by Muslims, Tamils and the Sinhalese. If you take Colombo, the number of Sinhalese are exceeded by Tamils and Muslims. They are not attacked and they have their living style without any issues. But minority voters are influencing the main political body. We need not have a situation where the tail wags the dog. It should be the dog who wags the tail. We need a government to take straight decisions. That is why it is necessary to have a Sinhalese government.

WION: Are you in favour of the Buddhist clergy or the Bodu Bala Sena forming a political party and fielding its candidates in future elections?

Gnanasara Thero: We are already engaged in a type of a political movement and we think that our involvement in a general election will be decisive. We are in the process of building a system at this movement.&nbsp;

WION: The Muslims in Sri Lanka fear for their lives after the April 2019 attacks in the country. What is the Bodu Bala Sena or the Buddhist clergy doing to reassure the Muslim community?

Gnanasara Thero: The traditional Muslims have lived with us in this country for centuries in harmony. In any society, there would be incidents. But since 1981, the traditional Muslims have started to change very fast. This change came to the point that they were willing to commit suicide for their God and make sacrifices. It is a very sad situation that brings tears to the eyes. So, we have a responsibility as the Buddhist clergy to solve this Islam issue rather than allowing the politicians to solve it. I trust the 75 per cent of this issue can be solved by Buddhist monks. We can use the Tripitaka to analyse the Quran and its verses which were found in dark ages and the validity of them in the modern world with an open discussion. We should be able to destroy the Wahhabism if this question is debated openly. We know that traditional Muslims will support us to eliminate the dark thoughts within them and defeat Wahhabism.&nbsp;

WION: Some people in Sri Lanka and around the world accuse you of hate speech, extremism and spoiling the image of Buddhism as a peaceful religion. Do you agree with them? What would you say in your defence?&nbsp;

Gnanasara Thero: There is nobody in this world who will not be insulted. Buddha, Jesus, Prophet Muhammad were also insulted. Our favourite leaders are also accused and there is nobody who doesn’t get accused of something. So, we also get accused of something. The insults we get are much similar to a naked man insulting a person in underpants. We as Buddhist monks can't allow the carnage to take place in the name of God, where they expect the entire world to be their followers. If you take the Quran, the hate speech and statements falling into such category are full of them. So, we are sad to see such accusations coming from people who barely know the basis of Islam.

WION: Some media reports liken you to Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu of Myanmar, who is variously described as an ultra-nationalist and the leader of an anti-muslim movement in Myanmar. Some other reports link the Bodu Bala Sena to the "969" movement of Myanmar. Your thoughts?

Gnanasara Thero: We have met the Buddhist monk in Myanmar and have discussed the Wahhabism spreading there. Myanmar is a Theravada Buddhist country but there is a difference. But there is no barrier for us to talk with another monk in that country. So, all Buddhists are facing the same situation. This is the same situation in southern Thailand as well. We don’t want any prize from the world. There are many media establishments using money from west Asia. &nbsp;We don’t have money and media to face them. So, we get hit by enemy attacks. So, we have joined hands with him to defeat Islamic extremism in the region. But here, our Bodu Bala Sena operation is different from the 969 organisation.

WION: You have said that politicians should leave the fight against Islamist extremism to religious leaders such as yourself. What do you propose to do, how and when?

Gnanasara Thero: We have experienced what happened in the recent past. So, it is essential to win the public trust for our new programme. Islamic extremism has created incidents as far back as the 1990s. But our leaders were unable to establish a programme against it. The black July in 1983 led to a 30-year war. Even though we defeated the LTTE, the separatist forces are still operating in other parts of the world to divide the country. &nbsp;If Prabhakaran was stopped at the initial stages, the Tamil society will not have gone back by several decades. As a result, both the Tamil and the Sinhalese failed and there was no victory for either party. &nbsp;Buddhist monks can defeat this by wisdom and not by weapons of different sizes. We did a similar fight against the bible in the 1800s. So, we have the experience. Today, the Quran, which is the other side of the Bible, has come to object us. We can defeat this using wisdom and that is why we wanted the politicians to step out. If the politicians are given the chance to solve, they will not be able to do it for the next 100 years. It is the nature of politicians to create situations or make use of the situations for their benefit. This Wahabism should get defeated within the mosque. Now it has come to the stage where the father and son fight within the house, the mosques are fighting each other and the villages are fighting against each other. We need the mosques to sort it out with the inputs from professionals and intellectuals. Once sorted, the politicians should bring in the laws.

WION: How do you view the policies of the BJP-led NDA government of prime minister Narendra Modi in India?

Gnanasara Thero: I think India’s Narendra Modi has a reputation similar to Putin in Russia, Donald Trump in the US, and Xi Jinping in China. Some of his radical decisions include the change of financial regulations and change of currency where many had to burn the 1,000 rupee notes. &nbsp;So, radical decisions of Narendra Modi are welcomed in India. He is against Islamic extremism and he also talks about building a Buddhist international platform. I think about the unity between the Hindus and the Buddhists to eradicate this global threat of terrorism. India is our ancestral house and the big brother. India’s action is important to us and if we become prey of Islamic terrorism it will be a threat for India as well. So, the understanding of the leaders is important and the protection of Narendra Modi. We need his protection. Gautama Siddhartha is an Indian and we have protected his preaching for 2,500 years. Now we need support from Narendra Modi.

A controversial Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, says that the majority Sinhala community can learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of zero-tolerance to terrorism.

A controversial Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, says that the majority Sinhala community can learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of zero-tolerance to terrorism. "India’s action is important to us and if we become prey of Islamic terrorism it will be a threat for India as well. So, the understanding of the leaders is important," he tells in an exclusive interview to WION's Ramesh Ramachandran. Gnanasara Thero is the general secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, a group comprising the Sinhala Buddhist clergy. He was released from the prison in May this year after president Maithripala Sirisena pardoned him. The monk says that the Bodu Bala Sena has not decided who to support in the forthcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka. Watch: Sinhala community can learn from Indian PM: Lankan monk × WION: What did the July 7 meeting of the Buddhist clergy in Kandy decide? Gnanasara Thero: On July 7, we held a convention in Kandy for a purpose. As a race, Sinhalas are divided due to party politics. Owing to this division, the (Sinhala) race has become weak and it has allowed extremist forces to operate in this country. Now is the time to resolve these issues and eradicate the fear of death. So, the convention was held to educate the Buddhist clergy. It was successful. There is no possibility of defeating extremism through politics. So, we proposed to establish a programme where the Sinhalese get stronger. We came out with 10 proposals on July 7 and plan to take it islandwide. WION: Who will the Bodu Bala Sena support in the forthcoming presidential elections and the reasons therefor? Gnanasara Thero: At this moment, the discussions are on about holding provincial council, general and presidential elections. No final decision has been reached. The political situation is complicated. None of the main political parties is able to announce their candidate. We don’t know if it will be a common candidate. We don’t have any faith in them and we believe that they all have failed. If you take the 225 members in the parliament, all are accused of some things. So, citizens are lobbying differently where some expect new names and some new faces which is new to politics. Such people are coming up and they have started publishing their policies. We have no anxiety even though it is at a complicated juncture. Why should we get excited if the main political parties are unable to find their candidates yet? For us, it is important to have a person who could change old laws, increase security, is capable of taking bold decisions to eradicate Islamic extremism, and is capable of establishing unity according to Buddha’s teaching. It should be a society based on trust for all citizens. It should be a free country for all. So, we want a Sinhalese to win with a Sinhala majority vote. Protection for all ethnicities can be assured only with such a move, to which we are committed. WION: You are reported to have said on July 7 that a Sinhala government should be formed, that the Sinhalese need to unite politically, economically and culturally, and that there is a need to protect Sri Lanka from Islam. Please elaborate on it. Gnanasara Thero: Sinhalese were never racists. When the Tamils in the north, east and the central hills were attacked culturally, the rulers were unable to find a solution. These Tamils in thousands were converted into Christianity and destroyed the Hindu culture. On the other hand, Hindus are getting Islamised. Not only that, the traditional Muslims are now moving towards Arabic Islamisation. Wahhabi groups with abundant funds operating within the government influence national decisions. We see the unity in India where they all say “Bharat Mata ki Jai". We see how they love their country. We also need that patriotism in Sri Lanka. We need a leader trusted by Muslims, Tamils and the Sinhalese. If you take Colombo, the number of Sinhalese are exceeded by Tamils and Muslims. They are not attacked and they have their living style without any issues. But minority voters are influencing the main political body. We need not have a situation where the tail wags the dog. It should be the dog who wags the tail. We need a government to take straight decisions. That is why it is necessary to have a Sinhalese government. WION: Are you in favour of the Buddhist clergy or the Bodu Bala Sena forming a political party and fielding its candidates in future elections? Gnanasara Thero: We are already engaged in a type of a political movement and we think that our involvement in a general election will be decisive. We are in the process of building a system at this movement. WION: The Muslims in Sri Lanka fear for their lives after the April 2019 attacks in the country. What is the Bodu Bala Sena or the Buddhist clergy doing to reassure the Muslim community? Gnanasara Thero: The traditional Muslims have lived with us in this country for centuries in harmony. In any society, there would be incidents. But since 1981, the traditional Muslims have started to change very fast. This change came to the point that they were willing to commit suicide for their God and make sacrifices. It is a very sad situation that brings tears to the eyes. So, we have a responsibility as the Buddhist clergy to solve this Islam issue rather than allowing the politicians to solve it. I trust the 75 per cent of this issue can be solved by Buddhist monks. We can use the Tripitaka to analyse the Quran and its verses which were found in dark ages and the validity of them in the modern world with an open discussion. We should be able to destroy the Wahhabism if this question is debated openly. We know that traditional Muslims will support us to eliminate the dark thoughts within them and defeat Wahhabism. WION: Some people in Sri Lanka and around the world accuse you of hate speech, extremism and spoiling the image of Buddhism as a peaceful religion. Do you agree with them? What would you say in your defence? Gnanasara Thero: There is nobody in this world who will not be insulted. Buddha, Jesus, Prophet Muhammad were also insulted. Our favourite leaders are also accused and there is nobody who doesn’t get accused of something. So, we also get accused of something. The insults we get are much similar to a naked man insulting a person in underpants. We as Buddhist monks can't allow the carnage to take place in the name of God, where they expect the entire world to be their followers. If you take the Quran, the hate speech and statements falling into such category are full of them. So, we are sad to see such accusations coming from people who barely know the basis of Islam. WION: Some media reports liken you to Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu of Myanmar, who is variously described as an ultra-nationalist and the leader of an anti-muslim movement in Myanmar. Some other reports link the Bodu Bala Sena to the "969" movement of Myanmar. Your thoughts? Gnanasara Thero: We have met the Buddhist monk in Myanmar and have discussed the Wahhabism spreading there. Myanmar is a Theravada Buddhist country but there is a difference. But there is no barrier for us to talk with another monk in that country. So, all Buddhists are facing the same situation. This is the same situation in southern Thailand as well. We don’t want any prize from the world. There are many media establishments using money from west Asia. We don’t have money and media to face them. So, we get hit by enemy attacks. So, we have joined hands with him to defeat Islamic extremism in the region. But here, our Bodu Bala Sena operation is different from the 969 organisation. WION: You have said that politicians should leave the fight against Islamist extremism to religious leaders such as yourself. What do you propose to do, how and when? Gnanasara Thero: We have experienced what happened in the recent past. So, it is essential to win the public trust for our new programme. Islamic extremism has created incidents as far back as the 1990s. But our leaders were unable to establish a programme against it. The black July in 1983 led to a 30-year war. Even though we defeated the LTTE, the separatist forces are still operating in other parts of the world to divide the country. If Prabhakaran was stopped at the initial stages, the Tamil society will not have gone back by several decades. As a result, both the Tamil and the Sinhalese failed and there was no victory for either party. Buddhist monks can defeat this by wisdom and not by weapons of different sizes. We did a similar fight against the bible in the 1800s. So, we have the experience. Today, the Quran, which is the other side of the Bible, has come to object us. We can defeat this using wisdom and that is why we wanted the politicians to step out. If the politicians are given the chance to solve, they will not be able to do it for the next 100 years. It is the nature of politicians to create situations or make use of the situations for their benefit. This Wahabism should get defeated within the mosque. Now it has come to the stage where the father and son fight within the house, the mosques are fighting each other and the villages are fighting against each other. We need the mosques to sort it out with the inputs from professionals and intellectuals. Once sorted, the politicians should bring in the laws. WION: How do you view the policies of the BJP-led NDA government of prime minister Narendra Modi in India? Gnanasara Thero: I think India’s Narendra Modi has a reputation similar to Putin in Russia, Donald Trump in the US, and Xi Jinping in China. Some of his radical decisions include the change of financial regulations and change of currency where many had to burn the 1,000 rupee notes. So, radical decisions of Narendra Modi are welcomed in India. He is against Islamic extremism and he also talks about building a Buddhist international platform. I think about the unity between the Hindus and the Buddhists to eradicate this global threat of terrorism. India is our ancestral house and the big brother. India’s action is important to us and if we become prey of Islamic terrorism it will be a threat for India as well. So, the understanding of the leaders is important and the protection of Narendra Modi. We need his protection. Gautama Siddhartha is an Indian and we have protected his preaching for 2,500 years. Now we need support from Narendra Modi.

We need patriotism like India and a leader who is trusted by all: Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to WION

Hundreds of supporters of Myanmar nationalist monk Wirathu protested at the country`s most sacred Buddhist pagoda on Thursday against a warrant issued for his arrest to face sedition charges.

Wirathu has long been known for harsh rhetoric against Myanmar`s Muslim minority, but the order to arrest him follows comments he made that are critical of the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

At least 300 of Wirathu`s supporters gathered outside the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar`s biggest city, Yangon.

"He is criticizing the government openly and publicly as a citizen," nationalist activist Win Ko Ko Lat told reporters. "Using the sedition act against him is entirely unfair," he said.

The arrest warrant for Wirathu was issued by a Yangon court on Tuesday. Police have not set out the exact grounds for the warrant under a law that prohibits bringing "hatred or contempt" or exciting disaffection towards the government.&nbsp;

At recent rallies, Wirathu has accused the government of corruption and criticised it for trying to change the constitution in a way that would reduce the power of the military.

The military ruled Myanmar for decades until the start of a transition to civilian rule in 2011. Wirathu is the most prominent of the nationalist monks to emerge as a growing political force since then.

Wirathu is based in the central city of Mandalay, but neither police nor his supporters said where they currently believed him to be.

In fiery speeches, Wirathu has often targeted Rohingya Muslims, more than 700,000 of whom fled an army crackdown in Rakhine State in 2017 that UN investigators said was carried out with "genocidal intent".

He has denied accusations of inciting violence.

The charges under the British colonial-era sedition law carry a prison sentence of up to three years.

Hundreds of supporters of Myanmar nationalist monk Wirathu protested at the country`s most sacred Buddhist pagoda on Thursday against a warrant issued for his arrest to face sedition charges.

Hundreds of supporters of Myanmar nationalist monk Wirathu protested at the country`s most sacred Buddhist pagoda on Thursday against a warrant issued for his arrest to face sedition charges. Wirathu has long been known for harsh rhetoric against Myanmar`s Muslim minority, but the order to arrest him follows comments he made that are critical of the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. At least 300 of Wirathu`s supporters gathered outside the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar`s biggest city, Yangon. "He is criticizing the government openly and publicly as a citizen," nationalist activist Win Ko Ko Lat told reporters. "Using the sedition act against him is entirely unfair," he said. The arrest warrant for Wirathu was issued by a Yangon court on Tuesday. Police have not set out the exact grounds for the warrant under a law that prohibits bringing "hatred or contempt" or exciting disaffection towards the government. At recent rallies, Wirathu has accused the government of corruption and criticised it for trying to change the constitution in a way that would reduce the power of the military. The military ruled Myanmar for decades until the start of a transition to civilian rule in 2011. Wirathu is the most prominent of the nationalist monks to emerge as a growing political force since then. Wirathu is based in the central city of Mandalay, but neither police nor his supporters said where they currently believed him to be. In fiery speeches, Wirathu has often targeted Rohingya Muslims, more than 700,000 of whom fled an army crackdown in Rakhine State in 2017 that UN investigators said was carried out with "genocidal intent". He has denied accusations of inciting violence. The charges under the British colonial-era sedition law carry a prison sentence of up to three years.

Hardline Myanmar monk's supporters protest arrest warrant

Myanmar police have issued an arrest warrant for an ultra-nationalist Buddhist monk, known for his anti-Muslim stance.&nbsp;

The warrant was issued for Wirathu on Tuesday night under article 124(a) of the legal code, which forbids inciting hatred or contempt against the government and carries a three-year jail sentence, the police said.

The monk who Time magazine dubbed "The Face of Buddhist Terror," is accused of making defamatory remarks against the de facto leader of the government, Aung San Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

The police have yet to locate Wirathu, who, according to local media reports, was not at the Masoeyein monastery in central Myanmar on Tuesday as he was due to appear before the governing body of the Buddhist clergy in Yangon, the former capital of the country, a day later.&nbsp;

The controversial monk is known for his tirades against Muslims, including comments that sparked a wave of sectarian violence against the Muslim population in central Myanmar in 2013 and for supporting the military operation that led over 700,000 people from the Muslim-majority Rohingya minority to flee to Bangladesh in 2017.

The United Nations has said that there were elements of genocidal intent in that military operation, which has been condemned by several organizations for all kinds of abuses against the Rohingyas, including killings, rapes and burning of houses.

Wirathu was the most visible face of the 969 movements, a Buddhist group that opposed the expansion of Islam in Myanmar, and the now-defunct Patriotic Association of Myanmar, better known as Ma Ba Tha, whose anti-Muslim position led the government to pass several laws considered discriminatory against Muslims.&nbsp;

His controversial comments, which also include calling for a boycott of Muslim businesses and hailing the assassination of a Muslim lawyer close to Suu Kyi, prompted Facebook to close his account and led the Thai authorities to ban his entry into the country, where he was scheduled to deliver a sermon.&nbsp;

Myanmar police have issued an arrest warrant for an ultra-nationalist Buddhist monk, known for his anti-Muslim stance. The warrant was issued for Wirathu on Tuesday night under article 124(a) of the legal code, which forbids inciting hatred or contempt against the government and carries a three-year jail sentence, the police said.

Myanmar police have issued an arrest warrant for an ultra-nationalist Buddhist monk, known for his anti-Muslim stance. The warrant was issued for Wirathu on Tuesday night under article 124(a) of the legal code, which forbids inciting hatred or contempt against the government and carries a three-year jail sentence, the police said. The monk who Time magazine dubbed "The Face of Buddhist Terror," is accused of making defamatory remarks against the de facto leader of the government, Aung San Suu Kyi. The police have yet to locate Wirathu, who, according to local media reports, was not at the Masoeyein monastery in central Myanmar on Tuesday as he was due to appear before the governing body of the Buddhist clergy in Yangon, the former capital of the country, a day later. The controversial monk is known for his tirades against Muslims, including comments that sparked a wave of sectarian violence against the Muslim population in central Myanmar in 2013 and for supporting the military operation that led over 700,000 people from the Muslim-majority Rohingya minority to flee to Bangladesh in 2017. The United Nations has said that there were elements of genocidal intent in that military operation, which has been condemned by several organizations for all kinds of abuses against the Rohingyas, including killings, rapes and burning of houses. Wirathu was the most visible face of the 969 movements, a Buddhist group that opposed the expansion of Islam in Myanmar, and the now-defunct Patriotic Association of Myanmar, better known as Ma Ba Tha, whose anti-Muslim position led the government to pass several laws considered discriminatory against Muslims. His controversial comments, which also include calling for a boycott of Muslim businesses and hailing the assassination of a Muslim lawyer close to Suu Kyi, prompted Facebook to close his account and led the Thai authorities to ban his entry into the country, where he was scheduled to deliver a sermon.

Myanmar police issue arrest warrant for extremist Buddhist monk

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-president-sirisena-extends-emergency-by-month-220647">President Maithripala Sirisena </a>pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

"The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said.

Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assemble outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him.

On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court.

Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed.

Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016.

He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead.

His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people.

Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country.

Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said.

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said. President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. "The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said. Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assemble outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him. On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court. Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed. Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016. He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people. Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka President Sirisena pardons firebrand Buddhist monk

Sri Lanka's president resisted calls from the island's Buddhist hierarchy to release a jailed firebrand monk Monday, even as 518 other convicts were released to mark the island nation's Independence Day.

Galagodaatte Gnanasara has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka.

Since December he has been serving concurrent jail sentences over disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant.

Sri Lanka's Buddhist hierarchy had pressed President Maithripala Sirisena to grant an independence day reprieve but this was rejected.

"The Independence Day amnesty applied to those serving short periods of time and only those convicted for minor offences," prisons spokesman Thusahra Upuldeniya said.&nbsp;

An association of lawyers had warned that releasing Gnanasara would amount to a snub of the judiciary.&nbsp;

The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead.

Gnanasara maintains close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country.

Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 violence and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka's president resisted calls from the island's Buddhist hierarchy to release a jailed firebrand monk Monday, even as 518 other convicts were released to mark the island nation's Independence Day.

Sri Lanka's president resisted calls from the island's Buddhist hierarchy to release a jailed firebrand monk Monday, even as 518 other convicts were released to mark the island nation's Independence Day. Galagodaatte Gnanasara has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka. Since December he has been serving concurrent jail sentences over disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant. Sri Lanka's Buddhist hierarchy had pressed President Maithripala Sirisena to grant an independence day reprieve but this was rejected. "The Independence Day amnesty applied to those serving short periods of time and only those convicted for minor offences," prisons spokesman Thusahra Upuldeniya said. An association of lawyers had warned that releasing Gnanasara would amount to a snub of the judiciary. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. Gnanasara maintains close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 violence and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka keeps controversial Buddhist monk behind bars

A senior Buddhist monk died in hospital Saturday, a day after being attacked by an elephant at his own temple near the capital, police said.

Bellanwila Wimalarathana, 77, was violently pushed to the ground by the tusker, but the mahout managed to prevent the monk from being gored, police said.

The monk was rushed to hospital but died a day later. He was also a vice chancellor of a state-run university and becomes the first high profile monk to be killed by a tamed elephant in the country.

The elephant was a gift to the temple by the government of Myanmar in mid-2013 and it had been named &quot;Myan Kumara.&quot;

Elephants are considered sacred animals protected by law in Sri Lanka. Several Buddhist temples have pet elephants which are paraded at annual pageants.

Despite laws protecting them, about 200 elephants are killed annually by farmers who say they stray onto their land and destroy crops. About 50 people have been killed in wild elephant attacks annually.

Sri Lanka`s elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000, according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in 1900.

Bellanwila Wimalarathana, 77, was violently pushed to the ground by the tusker, but the mahout managed to prevent the monk from being gored, police said

A senior Buddhist monk died in hospital Saturday, a day after being attacked by an elephant at his own temple near the capital, police said. Bellanwila Wimalarathana, 77, was violently pushed to the ground by the tusker, but the mahout managed to prevent the monk from being gored, police said. The monk was rushed to hospital but died a day later. He was also a vice chancellor of a state-run university and becomes the first high profile monk to be killed by a tamed elephant in the country. The elephant was a gift to the temple by the government of Myanmar in mid-2013 and it had been named "Myan Kumara." Elephants are considered sacred animals protected by law in Sri Lanka. Several Buddhist temples have pet elephants which are paraded at annual pageants. Despite laws protecting them, about 200 elephants are killed annually by farmers who say they stray onto their land and destroy crops. About 50 people have been killed in wild elephant attacks annually. Sri Lanka`s elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000, according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in 1900.

Sri Lanka elephant kills top Buddhist monk

Hundreds of followers of an influential Buddhist leader in Thailand blocked investigators aiming to arrest the abbott on corruption charges at the Dhammakaya Temple north of Bangkok. 
 
The abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, 72,&nbsp;is accused of conspiring to launder money by accepting cash stolen from a credit union. 
 
The controversy over Dhammachayo, in part reflects more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand, which has permeated all aspects of life, including Buddhism. 
 
Many of his supporters suspect he has been targeted because of perceived links to political opponents of the military-dominated establishment. 
 
Officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI)&nbsp;who turned up at&nbsp;Dhammachayo&#39;s Wat Dhammakaya temple complex found rows of followers sitting silently in the rain. 
 
&quot;We got in as far as we could, but were blocked by a group of devotees&nbsp;who, no matter what, would not let us get through,&quot; said DSI deputy chief police major Suriya Singhakamol. 
 
The failed bid to enter the wealthy and influential temple was broadcasted live on national television. 
 
Scores of riot police, who carried no weapons or batons, waited at a nearby government office but were not deployed. 
 
Suriya said a police search warrant was only valid until 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Thursday. 
 
He said he was &quot;confident&quot; the abbot remained inside the temple. 
 
&quot;This mission is not over. We still have the arrest warrant so the officials can still work with this warrant,&quot; Suriya added. 
 
Citing ill health, the abbot failed to appear at a police station to answer graft charges in May. 
 
The temple&#39;s spokesman said the abbott was still sick and he will not try to flee. 
 
&quot;Some of the devotees do not listen to anything and they insisted to ask mercy from the officials because Abbott Dhammachayo is still sick, and most importantly, he&#39;s not going to flee,&quot; said Phra Sanitwong Wutthiwangso, the temple spokesman. 
 
His followers reject the accusations against him, saying the charges are politically motivated because of the temple&#39;s perceived links with populist former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. 
 
Respected Buddhist monks are often seen as untouchable and many Thais would frown upon police entering a temple by force. 
 
But others say the repeated failure to arrest the abbot is further proof of Thailand&#39;s culture of impunity - the ease with which the rich and powerful can get away with nearly anything. 
(Reuters)

Buddhist devotees were found meditating in the rain as investigative officers entered the temple to arrest the abbot for corruption charges

Hundreds of followers of an influential Buddhist leader in Thailand blocked investigators aiming to arrest the abbott on corruption charges at the Dhammakaya Temple north of Bangkok. The abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, 72, is accused of conspiring to launder money by accepting cash stolen from a credit union. The controversy over Dhammachayo, in part reflects more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand, which has permeated all aspects of life, including Buddhism. Many of his supporters suspect he has been targeted because of perceived links to political opponents of the military-dominated establishment. Officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) who turned up at Dhammachayo's Wat Dhammakaya temple complex found rows of followers sitting silently in the rain. "We got in as far as we could, but were blocked by a group of devotees who, no matter what, would not let us get through," said DSI deputy chief police major Suriya Singhakamol. The failed bid to enter the wealthy and influential temple was broadcasted live on national television. Scores of riot police, who carried no weapons or batons, waited at a nearby government office but were not deployed. Suriya said a police search warrant was only valid until 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Thursday. He said he was "confident" the abbot remained inside the temple. "This mission is not over. We still have the arrest warrant so the officials can still work with this warrant," Suriya added. Citing ill health, the abbot failed to appear at a police station to answer graft charges in May. The temple's spokesman said the abbott was still sick and he will not try to flee. "Some of the devotees do not listen to anything and they insisted to ask mercy from the officials because Abbott Dhammachayo is still sick, and most importantly, he's not going to flee," said Phra Sanitwong Wutthiwangso, the temple spokesman. His followers reject the accusations against him, saying the charges are politically motivated because of the temple's perceived links with populist former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Respected Buddhist monks are often seen as untouchable and many Thais would frown upon police entering a temple by force. But others say the repeated failure to arrest the abbot is further proof of Thailand's culture of impunity - the ease with which the rich and powerful can get away with nearly anything. (Reuters)

Devotees shield Buddhist monk from arrest in Thailand

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