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WASHINGTON, D.C.
Our contact with the Christian community in Washington, D.C. came
about several years ago, after the Lord brought their attention to a
Buddhist group at nearby Poolesville who was constructing a Buddhist
prayer monument and channeling spiritual energy upon the US
Congress, White House and Supreme Court. Their Buddhist monastery
near D.C. is called Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) a.k.a. the World
Prayer Center (and we thought we had the only one in Colorado
Springs).
Catherine Burroughs who adopted the Buddhist name, Jetsunma Ahkon
Lhamo is the founder of KPC, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery
in America. She is also the subject of Martha Sherrill's provocative
journalistic expose of The Buddha from Brooklyn which investigates
Jetsunma's Buddhist monastic cult from an insider's point of view.
Here is American Buddhist pluralism at its most seductive apex.
Previous to KPC's founding she had a dream wherein , "A dove
came down and began to circle her head. A voice said, "You are
the light of the world...this is who you are." She was
recognized by a Tibetan religious leader as the reincarnation of a
seventeenth century Tibetan Buddhist nun and is the subject of
"deity yoga" in which devotees spend hours visualizing the
lama and "becoming one with him or her."
Our stay in Washington, D.C. was kindly arranged by the local
Christian community at the American Christian Trust, a house
dedicated to praying for Israel and our government in Washington,
D.C. Team members joined us from Asia, Washington, Colorado,
California, Connecticut and the D.C. area and focused upon prayer
and outreach at the Smithsonian Folklife Cultural Festival http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/buddhism/default.htm which co-hosted a two-week outdoor exhibit on the National Mall of
"Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows". Over two
million visitors were said to have visited the Folklife Festival.
Our time there for seven days was packed with difficult spiritual
work.
The Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture's stated purpose for
the event was, "At a time when anger, intolerance and violence
are rampant throughout the world, the wisdom and compassion of
Tibet's unique Buddhist culture offer a path of development the
world cannot afford to lose."
Although, I appreciate and love the Tibetan people and many aspects
of their colorful culture,
and believe it is our duty to defend their right to free
religious expression, we have the Christian duty to question their
underlying Buddhist agenda and belief that Tibetan Buddhism is the
answer America's problems.
If Tibetan Buddhism thinks it provides
the answer, then why was it unable to withstand it's own demise in
Tibet? It is our contention that it is introducing a tantric
idolatry to our nation which brings with it not seeds of peace, but
seeds of destruction.
While we do believe in religious liberty, do we not hold to a
separation of Church and State? The Supreme Court ruled against
prayer in public arenas just weeks before, but here was an event
paid for by millions of American tax dollars which featured burning
incense, prayer wheels, spiritual sand paintings, prayer monuments,
and public Tibetan prayer by the spiritual head of the entire
Tibetan Buddhist world.
They have a right to assemble as did the Nation of Islam, Promise
Keepers and others, but one former State Supreme Court Justice
questioned their right to have major public financial backing for a
spiritual gathering on the National Mall. The Smithsonian catalogue
in 26 pages did much to promote Tibetan Buddhism, religious art,
nuns, and the spread of the Buddhist Dharma (teaching) groups in the
West. This is tantamount to a State Church being given financing.
As Christians we believe that God loves the Tibetan people whom He
created as equals, but He also detests all idolatry. Our nation was
not founded on Buddhist principals, it was founded on
Judaic-Christian principals. Even though many may contend we live in
a post-Christian society which is their right to proclaim, it is our
undying commitment that we must continue to call our nation back to
its original foundations, while still repenting for our historic
failings, e.g., mistreatment of Native Americans, African
Americans, and allowing the detestable practices of secret societies such as Freemasonry and Skull and Bones (John Kerry and President Bush are members).
Our first morning in Washington began with a seminar on
strategic
intercession for several local prayer groups at Christ Our Shepherd,
who were kind enough to host the seminar for several days. Sarah,
one the intercessory group leaders later wrote, "There are no
words in English that can adequately express the JOY we all
experienced, ministering alongside the Sonrise Team here in
Washington. The spiritual landscape around here has had a tectonic
shift, must be that California anointing!" We spent much time
in confession, heartfelt worship and praise, foundational teaching,
and memorable fellowship those days.
We were invited to have lunch in the Senate Cafeteria, but I
missed the famous Bean Soup. The ride on the underground railroad
past all the State flags was an intriguing surprise. That afternoon,
our team was invited to attend a meeting in Rayburn Hall in the
Capitol to prayerfully listen to five members of the Knesset and
various members of Congress address the present state of US-Israeli
Relations (hosted by the National Unity Coalition for Israel).
Christians, Jews and Congressmen asked that Israel rescind it's
offer from China to build an AWAC for long distance detection of air
warfare. This contract's fulfillment essentially would of
handicapped any American military support of Taiwan. It may be
because of this meeting and prayers that the contract was later
withdrawn.
After the meeting, I was escorted and introduced to Craig Lotz,
who was in Washington, D.C. with 400 dedicated youth from the
Northwest who had been fasting for forty days and crying out for
revival in America. I had heard about this group, but had previously
been unable to contact them. It is so striking to see how God
ordains our steps. The next thing I knew is we were walking to the
very same church where we had just been on our face in confession
that morning. I shared my heart with 400 students I confessed my
role as a former Buddhist leader thirty years ago who converted many
students to Buddhism and asked for their forgiveness. I concluded by
sharing the story of my redemption in Christ, our mission and
purpose for being in Washington that week. It was a powerful Kairos
moment.
That evening was concluded with
Shabbat (a weekly religious meal
celebrated by the Jews to begin their day of worship on Friday
evening at sundown) with our wonderful host, Betty and Charlie. God
visited us that evening in a profound way. The transparency, and
loving openness of each team member revealed the light of heaven.
Each shared a story of God's gracious hand in guiding them
through a dark period of pilgrimage in their life. Gene spoke of the
love of God. Sally of God's miracle of bringing a Vietnamese son
into her life. Linda of God's friendship through friends who
understood her personal trials. Bernie, a Sinhalese Sri Lankan,
shared his conversion story and his commercial exploits of buying
pepper in India. Sam Williams, a Tamil Sri Lankan (you know there is
a civil war in Sri Lanka between the two groups?), shared how the
Christian compassion Bernie conveyed to him influenced his life.
What a blessed evening!
Do you remember me asking you to pray for my healing from the
daily headaches I've had for the last three years? That night God
worked deeply in my life as Sally, Bernie, and Sam prayed for me.
Since then I have taken only two aspirin. I am very grateful to God
for answering your prayers!
On Saturday, July 1 "Tibetan American Day," we
witnessed thousands protesting for "A Free Tibet" as they
proceeded from the White House to the Chinese Embassy. Eric Vess
from Video Vision drove up from North Carolina and was able to
capture two days of events on video which will eventually be edited
into a short video presentation. Update. There is now a video incorporating much of our footage into a prayer video. Please contact us if you're interested.
