Dear Thunderbolt,

As soon as I received word about this Cyclone, I sent out an email to my close friends who have their own social networks to do the following:

1. Pray for those who died and pray for the safety of all those who are still living. This means the victims who are still trying to survive and ALL the people of Burma/Myanmar. This means all the citizens and all those who are living there. NLD, SPDC, Army, poor, rich, farmers, workers, students, teachers, monks, businessmen. I mean all. When we do the Loving-kindness meditation in our own Meditation Groups we do it according to the Buddhist way. You need to love yourself first before you can generate any form of Loving-kindness for any other person.

2. To treat this as a Humanitarian issue and do whatever they can at the family level, ward or township level and also at the community level.

3. When we do any act of donation, the intention is the most important thing. In Buddhist tradition, cetana is most important. Kutho kan cetana that is what it is. So that is why I say forget the "I" and the "Ego" and just do the good deed. There is not need to go up to the top of any tower and shout "I donated, I donated this and this amount." So long as we know we have done a good deed that is good enough. Other things are not important. So that is why I urge all my friends and leaders of all other associations to all JOIN forces, forget the petty things, forget the past differences of opinion and UNITE and do what needs to be done.

3. Do not wait for anyone. Not the UN, not the government, not the army, not the Red Cross or whatever humanitarian associations or organizations there may be. The first DUTY of every citizen is to take care of their own safety and do what needs to be done by discussing it among themselves at the GRASSROOTS level. That is why I proposed the formation of CCC's at all levels of organization. This is what all our citizens can do. There has been too much division already. This will not be helpful for any of us. The more disunity we have, the easier it will be for our enemies to exploit that disunity. Committees of Concerned Citizens at the ward, township level can do wonders. I have seen many video clips or citizens and monks taking action to clear up the trees lying on the streets. This is how it should be.

4. All the Burmese who are fortunate to be living abroad should organize and UNITE to treat this as a Humanitarian endeavor. By that I mean do not say "he is from this organization or that organization, he is NLD, he is the son of an army official." We should stop all these divisive remarks and attitudes and take prompt action. Lives can be saved every minute and time is of the essence. Our bickering and our petty differences should not act as an obstacle in this HUMANITARIAN effort. We are all HUMAN beings first. So all humans should be treated equally. Just like the parents who will not make a differentiation among the son on the chest and the son who is on the back (Kyaw thar Yin thar), we should take action for the benefit of all CITIZENS. Disaster and disease can hit anyone. It will not ask "are you this person, are you that person, to which political organization do you belong. Are you an army personnel". So it can hit anyone and disease can spread any where. Floods, fire, disease, HIV AIDs know no borders. If there is fire in the rubbish dump, it can burn down the Royal Palace also.

5. For all Burmese families to play the 11 parittas. This is for protection. All others can pray in their own way - Christians, Hindus, Muslims in their own traditions. Inter-faith prayers are also needed.

May I pray for the safety of all the citizens of Burma/Myanmar.

May our country achieve unity of spirit and unity of strength and become prosperous again.

Metta,

Km