For those less acquainted with Sandum society, there is a lot of talk of the “Philosophy” and of Socialism. However, in Sandus today, we consider the Philosophy to be tripartite and the most liberal aspect is often overlooked in the press, though its importance plays into each policy and action of our state — and even influences the Socialism of Sandus. This part of our Philosophy comes in two forms — religious and secular — according to the individual’s preference: this part is Buddhism, and the Sôgmô will visit His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, tomorrow for the second time of the Sôgmô’s reign. Often seen as conflicting views, Buddhism and Socialism coexist in Sandus under the vanguard power of the Sôgmô.
Buddhism is the cultural religion of Sandus, with the history of Sandus being shaped by it under the first statal incarnation of the Grand Lamate. Though, contrary to popular belief, there is no official religion in Sandus, Buddhism plays an important part of Sandum government in a secular way and is an important aspect of all Sandum policies, including Sandus’s controversial anti-racist and anti-xenophobia policies under the policy category of social progress. Though seldom commemorated in celebration or acknowledged, this importance will translate into an important event for Sandus and for the Sôgmô tomorrow.
The Sôgmô shall make pilgrimage to visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama tomorrow and shall receive his teachings in two occasions on the Sôgmô’s future university campus in College Park, MD. This will be the second time the Sôgmô has made pilgrimage to the Dalai Lama, the last being in July 2011 — three months into the Sôgmô’s reign. Since then, Sandum Philosophy has been better defined from its odd mixes of religious philosophies and political theories into a tripartite philosophy that stresses personal individuality, collective cooperativism, cultural and political independence, pacifism, and social progress. The Sôgmô’s visit comes at a pivotal time in Sandus where the future of the Nation and State is being considered as the Sôgmô moves on to university and Sandus struggles with the reduced activity of citizens.
The Sôgmô shall listen to lectures from the Dalai Lama on peace in the morning and shall meet more intimately with the Dalai Lama at a cross-religious discussion on Sufism and Buddhism of only a few hundred, with a personal reception following the discussion. A special Buddhist prayer session will be headed by the Sôgmô-as-Sacra Flameno this evening with recitations of the Diamond and Heart Sutras, the Seven-line Prayer to Padmasambhava, and the Wishful Prayer to remove Obstacles upon the Path before the journey tomorrow. This visit falls only two days before the Remembrance Day celebrations and the start of the Lemuria. Pictures will be posted of the event to the Facebook page of the State of Sandus.
— Sôgmô Sörgel
sandus.org 