Let It Go and Let It Flow?

                             Mekong River, Neak Loeung, Cambodia

Let It Go and Let It Flow? 

In Cambodia, based on my stay of over ten years (2008-2018) and subsequent visits (2019, 2022, 2023), I continue to see injustice, poverty, corruption, fear, intimidation, nepotism, impunity, immorality, oppression, wealth disparity, inequitable opportunity, economic inequality, social exploitation, environmental degradation, divisiveness, and structural violence that occur when social structures, institutions, and policies prevent people from meeting their basic human security needs (free from fear, want, and indignity).  I also observe a steep decline in the Buddhist religion. A significant number of monks across the country need to pay more attention to the teachings of Buddha in terms of discipline or code of conduct (Vinaya), morality, and the path to righteousness. Instead, almost everyone seems to be addicted to money (Sassana Dollar), power, status, and material possessions. What I witnessed in my homeland demoralized me and sent me into a feeling of despair and hopelessness—immobilized by a moral crisis. Caught between accepting and rejecting the harsh realities, I often ponder, “Should I let it go and let it flow?” - contemplating the Mekong River.