I will burn myself again and again
SUNGCHUK KYI
Is my grassland still green?
Are my blue lakes still crystal clear?
Do my mountain rivers still sing their songs?
Eyes of the great gods
Do you witness all these?
If all the bloody crimes of the world?
Can be burned and transformed by the heat of fire;
Who is sucking the blood and marrow from my body?
Who is erasing the bloody images on my chest?
Right before my eyes
Who dug up and desecrated my father's grave?
While I am still listening?
Who cut the life force from my mother tongue?
How can I bear this?
My mind cannot lift this body?
My heart can no longer endure the pain from this wound
Why am I tortured like this?
Yesterday, amidst dreams the bandits have destroyed my ancestral home
Today, right before my very eyes my mother is turned naked
Tomorrow, my children's brains and bones will be scattered in the sky
I cannot submit to this anymore.
This inner feeling based on conception
This path that I found in my dreams.
Today, like this I wish to burn without regret
This magnificent butter-lamp-like light is ignited by my mind
This whole body like an offering bowl I want to sacrifice
Brothers and sisters, who will forever live in my heart
Gods and Goddess illuminated by the conviction of my faith
And the splendour of the mountains and rivers in my heart
As I leave all of you rise higher with my consciousness
As I leave everything is nurtured by my aspirations.
From now on
Let me alone take the bullets from a hundred thousand guns
Let me alone bear the endless tortures and beatings
Let me alone take all your accusations and orders
Reason is,
I can always offer you my precious life in return
I have given you a responsibility that I could have taken.
From now onwards
Please take care of the traditions and heritage of my lineage
Take care of my homeland and its environment
Respect the life-soul of my mother tongue,
Above all give freedom to my beloved brothers and sisters.
This is my last message written in blood.
These are the reasons and aspirations why I burn myself again and again
These must be fulfilled!
All the power of the gods dwelling amidst love and faith
All the feelings of human beings living in the world
Stand in solidarity with my yesterday’s actions
Be witnesses to my present state of affairs
Show support to my family’s tomorrow.
In this way I am travelling on the path of light,
In this way I am burning in the sad face of my reality.
My brothers and sisters living with sorrow and misery
People of the world who live in peace and freedom
And the tyrannical authorities that prefer torture and suppression
All I want is lasting peace and freedom.
What I am searching for is a life of equality and fairness
Until and unless I accomplish this
I will burn myself again and again.
* Translated by Om Gangthik, writer and translator, who studies at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath.