Thank you for your very interesting email.
Marx and Engels both had a very high opinion of Buddhism and had learned about the Dharma from their good friend - Karl Koppen (Early Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism). Indeed, Marx is even recorded as practicing Buddhist meditation to 'rest his mind'! There were at least three Buddhist Republics in the USSR and the Soviets had academic experts tasked with learning about every aspect of Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist culture. In the Soviet movie '1917' a Chinese-Buddhist Temple in the USSR is featured. Of course, in 1928, Joseph Stalin founded an academic department specialising in Buddhist studies. Today, China, North Korea, Vietnam and Laos now pursue the concept of 'Dharma' and 'Socialism' being one and the same in essence!
Please feel free to translate any of the BMA- UK articles into the wonderful Bengali language.
With Metta
Adrian
Kind Attention: Mr. Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD
Buddhist-Marxism Alliance (UK)
Dear Sir,
May I introduce myself for a noble task (at least for my nation).
I am Swagatam Chakma, a Buddhist by birth, hailing from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. Our CHT region is mainly inhabited by Buddhist population, where Islam is being spread very quickly under the patronization of a vested quarter now a days. On the other hand our political leaders of the region considers Buddhism an 'opium', since they are the true communists, as they claim.
I did find your articles as blessings, quite useful in eradicating such wrong notions and concepts about Buddhism. If translated into Bengali language and circulated widely in our region, the articles will help us find the right path towards political emancipation and reduce our undue sufferings.
Therefore, I would be grateful if you please give me your kind consent/permission to translate and publish the articles into Bengali.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Best regards,
Swagatam Chakma
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mobile: 01715-778753