Buddha & St Benedict United!

UK: Buddha & St Benedict Entwined – a Retrospect! (10.9.2026)

Now, whilst in Hereford I befriended an Irishman (my family are part Irish) named “Brian Gray” – who was training to be a Catholic Priest. He was fascinated by Buddhism and liked to “spar” with me in gloved-boxing matches (I was a nasty bit of work in my late teens – as I discovered my natural physical strength). He introduced me to a “Father Thomas” the Abbot of the Catholic Hereford Cathedral. He wanted me to go to the Vatican to meet the Pope – and to join the Catholic faith – but of course, this was not my path. I am not attuned to entering these paths that discriminate against non-members for not being members. Also, at that point I was learning about how the Vatican supported fascism before, during, and after WWII. So you can see my predicament. Although I had friendly interactions on the personal level, there were certain political realities that had to be acknowledged and balanced. Anyway, the upshot of all this was that I was introduced to the study of the Rule of St Benedict followed by the monastics of the Catholic Church (and given the ring you can see here – although I am unaware of its significance).

Image posted to Truth Social by US president Donald Trump showing a map depicting North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Greenland and Iceland covered by the Stars and Stripes and labeled “United States of America”. Image: Truth Social

US: Trump Conquers the World (in his Head)! (10.9.2026)

Even in the UK the Bank of England is subordinate to the US banking system (and cannot operate independent from it) – whilst US military bases strewn the land (there are parts of the UK where US military personnel walk around society in uniform). This de facto US influence is everywhere and it has been established and justified through the fear of a “false” enemy (such as the USSR, modern Russia, and various other States – such as Cuba and Iran). Europe, via its banking system and military, does whatever the US indicates, effectively following American foreign policy without question. Trump is giving an open expression to what is already happening regarding US reach and influence. The issue is that of progressing this “de facto” influence toward a “de jure” reality. Trump is expressing what the US is really doing and the hypocrisy of the bourgeois West is kicking-in. People like to “think” they are “free” from US influence onthe surface – whilst remaining completely subordinated to Washington behind-the-scenes. It seems to be bad form to point this out in the open.

Archives Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan.pdf

Cuba: 63rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council – Geneva [9.9.2026] – Statement By Ambassador Rodolfo Benitez Verson! (10.9.2026)

The perverse and deliberate purpose of the United States is to cause extreme shortages and total asphyxiation to Cuban families. They are trying to invoice a humanitarian tragedy to destabilise the country and achieve their political objectives.

In what constitutes an unprecedented reinforcement of the blockade, since last January the United States has imposed a brutal energy siege against Cuba. They threaten reprisals against any country that supplies oil to the island. The shortage of fuels has had a devastating impact on almost all areas of society.

Due to a lack of electricity and supplies, the national health system is forced to postpone non-urgent surgeries to prioritize life-defining ones. More than 100,000 patients are waiting for surgery, of which 12,000 are children. Life expectancy for children with cancer fell from 85% to 65%. The infant mortality rate has grown from 4.4 per thousand births in 2018 to 9.9 in 2025. Of the 395 drugs that Cuba produces within its basic health system, 300 are in short supply due to difficulties in accessing raw materials.

Sinister Black Bloc - UK

UK: A Migrant is a “Displaced Worker”! (9.9.2026)

Of course, the Royal Navy could deter Channel crossings by its presence and the RNLI does not need to risk the lives of its crews. Assisting criminals does not happen in any other area of society. Sanctions should be imposed on France if it continues to facilitate mass migration to the UK. These are just ideas on the ground – but all it would take is a change of policy at national level. The masked men you see in the video above are known as “Black Bloc” in the UK. I think this is Dover. Notice they are wearing black and there are no national flags. This is because these individuals are “anarchists” who have taken the side of the far-right in the migrant issue. They seek to intimate and attack migrants (and anyone who helps them) as they land.

The Mind Must Be Calm and Serene!

BMA-UK: Buddhist Practice of “Accepting” & “Rejecting” Food Donations – The Politics of the Buddha’s Begging Bowl! (8.9.2026)

Rules in the Dhammic-sense serve only as basic guides toward moral-behaviour – hence the obvious latitude found in the night-life of places such as Thailand. Obviously, a lay-Buddhist is free to follow whatever path they perceive is correct for themselves and the circumstances they inhabit – after-all – it is their karma-producing habit. One issue is not to inflict suffering on others – including animals (this is why my family will never hurt animals in anyway). Hunger striking, in this sense, only physically “hurts” the individual participating in it – although a case can be made that those watching or caring “from afar” might suffer emotional pain. Of course, in the poor parts of Asia, Buddhist monastics exist whilst eating every other day – as the laity is so poor they have very little to share – but what an effort they make! Although starving themselves, the Buddhist laity will put aside a small amount for the Buddhist monastics. I was told that in the Northern forests of Thailand food is so scarce that Buddhist monastics often sieve a type of algae out of the local rivers – using their begging bowls – and share this to eat.

World Stands in Solidarity with Cuba!

Cuba: Illegal US Embargo Causes Record Economic Losses of Over $8bln! (8.9.2026)

Severely limit the raw materials available – such as that used to produce food, medicine, and energy – and the available resources will soon dry-up. Add this to internal betrayal – those living inside the targetted regimes – and attacks emerge from outside and within. Venezuela is a prime example. I believe the current leader did a deal with Trump and new in advance about the murder of the 32 Cuban bodyguards and Maduro’s kidnap. Her first act was to re-establish diplomatic links with Israel and give Israel oil (I believe “free”) to continue its genocide against Gaza. This was the oil originally given (free) to Cuba. You see the issues. Meanwhile, the far-right candidate that Trump gave the Nobel Peace Prize to (what a piece of shit entity that so-called “Prize” is) – “disappeared” from public view because of this deal (she literally was not required). The hand-over of Venezuela was stage-managed to Cuba’s detriment. How long can Cuba hold-out? The so-called “Socialists” in Venezuela stopped issuing pro-Cuba statements as soon as Maduro was out the country. Today, there is only silence from the new (Trotskyite) regime. I suspect the US will launch a military strike against Cuba and annex the island. Show Trials will then begin – together with intense false propaganda offensives about “how evil” Socialism is! The US-controlled UN will pursue a plan of “doing nothing” and strategically “condemning” as and when it suits them.

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