Ave, Sandum Citizens!
Next week, and beginning with this weekend, our State witnesses a ceremonial renewal. This weekend, on C or the Gregorian Saturday, this State witnesses it half-year Congress of all Sandum people which, by fact and by practice, becomes our State’s parliament. Then, Lhabab Düchen – a Tibetan Buddhist Holiday – will be observed in Sandus on VI (the 6th) as Americans beyond our frontiers go to the polls to vote. The very next day, on VII (the 7th), marks the National Day of Socialism – the first day of the October Revolution celebrations – and then the Day of the Ways and Means of Revolution, on VIII (the 8th).
The CCPS Nov. MMXII Party Congress
This Party Congress will be a momentous occasion. For the second time in our history, a secretary other than the Sôgmô will be elected.
This Congress will also see a definition of the innermost Sandum value: to reduce the suffering of all people. This value shall be defined in more detail at the Congress and shall be worked and worded so that both the liberties of Sandum citizens guaranteed in the Founding Law are respected yet that this value will provide a social purpose for gathering and a social “push” for the State.
Then the Congress shall discuss the Philia Policy, how to grow Sandum culture in the next year until the Sôgmô goes to university and how to form a socialist and democratic society whilst keeping the structure we have in Sandus today.
In addition to the Philia Policy, which shall see a form of democratisation from the top, the Congress shall also consider broadening the role the Party plays as a Parliament of the People. In only a few months, Sandus may be a fully democratic and meritocratic society with emphasis on our central structure for the progressive function of the State and Central People’s Government. In addition to Party Congresses as these, this Congress may also consider non-Congressional meetings in order to advise the Sôgmô and represent the People.
Following the Congress, the Office of the Sôgmô shall begin to experiment with a new form of bureaucracy for our State.
Lhabab Düchen
According to the Tibetan tradition, when the Buddha attained enlightenment, he taught first at Sarnath and eventually he went to the Heaven of Indra, where his deceased mother’s spirit lived. Lhabab Düchen is the day which marks in the Tibetan calendar (22nd day of the 9th lunar month) when the Buddha returned to this realm in order to continue to teach. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, days like these carry importance in that they are seen as miraculous, auspicious, and whose karma and merit are multiplied by 10,000 times. Therefore, the Sôgmô – as Sacra Flameno – shall conduct a tsog, read sutras aloud, and recite mantras. For Sandus, this day will continue perfectly into the National Day of Socialism, which is seen as carrying its own merits for the ending of worldly suffering. Lhabab Düchen, therefore, carries importance for its merits for the ending of more perceived, “in the mind” suffering – which is, most of times, the largest and most harmful form of suffering which is universal to everyone.
For more information, we refer this site from the local Tibetan Buddhist temple in Poolesville, MD.
National Day of Socialism & the Day of the Ways and Means of Revolution
The last two days focus on the merit of ending worldly suffering. Whereas suffering begins by desire, ego, ignorance, fear, hatred, and is perceived by the senses of our minds, worldly suffering includes issues that take place before us. Though they are still spurred by these aggregates, they are issues which are detrimental to us and beyond our control: such as, famine, lack of housing, and other social problems. The emphasis of the Sandum State is to end these forms of suffering and to establish a socialist economy and society for their destruction. Therefore, the National Day of Socialism is a holiday of a particular importance in the Sandum political calendar that focuses on the Socialist characteristics of the State and stresses the intention of good will.
The last day, the Day of the Ways and Means of Revolution, stresses the social capacity which we have for creating a Socialist society. In the Sandum view, the revolution (i.e., in this case, the October Revolution) continues after the historical events take place and the spirit and fervour found in the revolution for a better, Socialist country are expected to come to fruition. This day marks that social hope for a Socialist society – i.e., a society in which each look out for the welfare of others – and that historical continuity from the October Revolution to the contemporary State.
As it is not common for these three days – Lhabab Düchen, the National Day of Socialism, and the Day of the Ways and Means of Revolution – to be in successive order (though the latter two are always), it is an especially fortunate occurrence that they are right after each other and represent the three important Buddhist-Socialist aspects of the State: (1) End the suffering of the mind; (2) End suffering caused by world events; (3) Establish a State and a Society based on Compassion and Socialism.
— Sôgmô Sörgel.
sandus.org 