A Man on a Mission
By Gary Rocchio - January 17, 2025
Alan Clements at Banyen Books, Vancouver, 2024. Gary Rocchio
From My Heart to Burma: A Call for Justice, Freedom, and Global Solidarity
I am honoured to share the article below, written by Gary Rocchio, not as an elevation of myself, but as a tribute to the beloved people of Myanmar. At this very moment, these courageous activists, citizens, and revolutionaries are risking everything - fighting for their dignity, their conscience, their freedom, and a future grounded in federal democracy. A democracy inclusive of all people, all religions, and all ethnicities.
“Alan Clements is an enigma. His phone number is a closely guarded secret, and few people know the address of his apartment. Inside, Clements has assembled tapes, transcripts, photos, and films of his interviews with the founders of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD), 200 former political prisoners, and - his most precious archive - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”
May this article serve as a reminder that we are all bound together in this global revolution of the spirit, united in the pursuit of the core essence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: that all beings are born equal in dignity and conscience, irrespective of economic status, language, or region. Within this universal truth lies the foundation for a world where freedom is not a privilege reserved for a few but an unalienable right belonging to every human being, transcending borders, religions, and ethnic divides.
Let this article compel world leaders—including President Donald Trump, his cabinet, his staff, and all who claim to champion freedom and democracy in America—to act. May it awaken the conscience of those in positions of power to demand the immediate release of Burma’s Nobel Peace Laureate, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, cabinet members, ministers, and the 21,000 prisoners of conscience currently languishing in Myanmar’s prisons. These men and women, stripped of their freedom, denied human contact, and deprived of basic medical care, endure unimaginable torture at the hands of a military regime intent on crushing the soul of a nation. This tyranny, emboldened by the tacit support of Russia and China, seeks to extinguish the light of freedom and democracy through violence and repression.
Again, I respectfully urge President Trump and those who can influence him: declare loudly and unequivocally to Myanmar’s military dictator Min Aung Hlaing that these courageous, freedom-loving political prisoners must be released now. Make it clear, as you have in other instances of hostage-taking, that justice demands swift and forceful action. Just as you’ve warned of consequences for tyranny elsewhere, let the same uncompromising message be sent to Myanmar: Free them now, or all hell will break loose. Stand for global democracy and freedom as I know you aspire to do.
May this article serve, in its humble way, as a call to action—from my heart to yours. Gary, thank you—for the people of Myanmar, for freedom, and for justice.
To my beloved Dhamma teachers—the late, venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, my preceptor and first meditation teacher; the late, venerable Sayadaw U Pandita, the Dhamma teacher and advisor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and many other leaders in Burma—I bow my head in honor. Your teachings, sacrifices, and example of moral courage inspire me to stand with the people of Myanmar as they continue their noble struggle for freedom.
I must also acknowledge the tireless and courageous role played by my colleague and co-author, Fergus Harlow, who, through his work as the director of UseYourFreedom.org, has dedicated himself relentlessly to amplifying the voices of Myanmar’s activists and revolutionaries, ensuring their stories are heard around the world. His commitment to justice and democracy is a beacon of hope in this critical time.
Likewise, I honor the fearless and tireless efforts of Kerry Wright, whose courageous work for the campaign has been instrumental in building global awareness and solidarity for Myanmar’s struggle. Kerry’s dedication to justice and freedom is a powerful reminder of what it means to stand up for humanity, no matter the cost.
Burma, this nation of extraordinary diversity and inclusivity, is where my Dharma and revolutionary life were born. I lower my head to the earth in reverence for all who have lived, those who have been imprisoned, those who have been executed, and those who are still fighting with unshakable courage. I join you, though from a distance, in solidarity. Your moral courage, your conscience in action, your metta in action, and your sacred rage in action are an example for the world.
May we soon witness a new dawn of freedom in Burma—a democracy far sooner than we can imagine. From my heart to yours, thank you for reading this introduction, for reading Gary’s humble article, and for standing with the people of Myanmar.
From my heart, thank you.
Clements is one of few Westerners to ordain as a Buddhist monk. After leaving the monastery, he expanded his experience into a diverse range of work as an author, investigative journalist, human rights activist, spoken-word artist, public speaker, and non-sectarian Dharma teacher offering retreats and lectures worldwide. He has published more than 18 books, with more on the way, as well as blog posts and a steady stream of YouTube videos (more than 400 at last count).
Born in Boston in 1951, Clements is a second-generation Lebanese Syrian. Raised in a Christian household, his mother was a Lebanese-Syrian Christian and his grandmother, who Clements was close to, was a Christian mystic.
He says he loved his parents and they were exceptionally good to him. His entire extended family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins—were all “great.” There were no struggles or regrets; life was good, and he loved being alive. But as time went on, he began feeling intense discontent with his life…
A keen athlete, Clements attended the University of Virginia on a football scholarship but left in the second half of his junior year, at a pivotal point in the Vietnam War.
From the late ‘60s to the mid-‘70s, the U.S. was swept by major demonstrations against the Vietnam War and for civil rights. People, especially young people, were struggling to understand a world full of war, poverty, and racial discrimination. The search for self-awareness launched trends in religion and meditation practices, where psychedelics often helped people along their journey.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/in-person/profile/a-man-on-a-mission.html