From the article: War and Buddhism
To Buddhists, war is akusala -- unskillful, evil. Yet Buddhists sometimes fight in wars. Is war always wrong? Is there such a thing as a "just war" theory in Buddhism? Is it all right for a Buddhist to pursue a military career? Share Your Thoughts
What We Are Fighting For
- If we are to be leaders of humanity into a new type of world, one free from war, we should contemplate Buddha's words: “Make certain that you do not struggle in the interest of self against truth and justice. He, who struggles out of self-interest … will have no reward. But he who struggles for peace and truth will have great reward; even his defeat will be deemed a victory.” From this perspective, we are to "make certain" that our employer (military) is NOT employing us to do a job based on his and/or our "self interests" against the "self interests" of another group of people for thereby one cannot ascertain whose interests are more important (theirs, ours or our employers). Then we are advised to “spend our energy in the struggle” for Peace and Truth, leaving military efforts only for the defense of those whom we are “certain” are committed to the Establishment of Peace and Truth on Earth. Contact@OneUnifiedReligion.com
- —BTerence
Present Day As An Example
- There are times when war is right, and times when it is wrong. To join the military with the reason of "I'm serving my country" is not enough. Serving a crooked country doesn't make your service noble. If I was alive when Hitler was committing genocide in Europe and setting up concentration camps, I would have joined the fight without hesitation to help those people. But if you look at the Middle East, what are we doing? Christians (US is a Christian country) have been waging war with the ME for CENTURIES; I'm pretty sure signing up so that I could stand on a street corner waiting to get blown apart by an IED isn't going to resolve that. Look at Iraq. I can't tell whether or not people are suffering more now than when Saddam was dictator. The Gov't says they are there to help, but we know that is either or lie or they are incompetent. Either way I won't fight for their cause if that is the case. Occupation isn't the way. War can sometimes be justified, but this time it isn't.
- —Guest Verisco
Right and Wrong
- "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoingness and rightdoingness there is a field. I'll meet you there" --Rumi
- —srohrer
ON A LESSER EXTENT
- KATSUGENKEN, TRANSLATED TO LIFE GIVING SWORD. BETTER KNOWN IN ENGLISH AS, KILL ONE TO SAVE A THOUSAND. I ASKED A BUDDHIST FRIEND AND TEACHER THE OTHER DAY, HOW CAN I SWEAR TO NEVER HARM A SENTIENT BEING AND ALSO SWEAR TO NEVER ALLOWING A SENTIENT BEING TO BE HARMED. AFTER A WHILE HE CAME UP WITH THE WORD INTENT. A WORD USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT EVERY TIME AN ARREST IS MADE. WHEN I PICK UP MY SWORD, OR PLACE MY GUN IN IT'S HOLSTER IT IS ALWAYS MY INTENT IN USING THESE TOOLS TO SAVE MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND THE WEAK FROM HARM NOT TO MEAD OUT JUSTICE. INTENT, A SMALL WORD. BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
- —RICHARDISAACS
Question
- If a buddhist must have a livehood that doesn't harm othershow can a buddhist society protect itself against invasion?
- —Guest matt
War
- I feel like that a Buddhist could pursue a career in the military, because we need military. I see a lot of you talking about killing is bad and it is, I agree with that. But to have no means of defense I think is foolish. We want world peace and if we were to not take up arms when we needed to I feel like Buddhism would be lost forever. Throughout history you can see examples of Buddhist monks taking up arms to defend their brothers so that they may flee. When China invaded Tibet there were Buddhist Monks that took up arms so that they could help their fleeing brothers. So I feel as though Buddhist can join the military. I myself am joining the Marine Corps but as an electrician. and -Arian419 I felt the calling to be a Marine and I am answering it. I want to defend what I love but i will do it by being in the support part of the Marines.
- —Guest Devil Dog
Is Pacifism Always Right?
- From Wikipedia: "...The Five Precepts are commitments to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Undertaking the five precepts is part of both lay Buddhist initiation and regular lay Buddhist devotional practices. They are not formulated as imperatives, but as training rules that laypeople undertake voluntarily to facilitate practice." Most all of the five precepts end up being ignored during war. You will notice that it says that we must voluntarily follow them to facilitate Buddhist practice. It doesn't work without them. For us, as Buddhists, pacifism is always correct, but everyone isn't Buddhist and many Buddhists have to defend themselves, but that isn't the same as violence for authoritarian control of other people.
- —Guest walkerazcarpenter
Enjoying freedom obtained by other a rig
- For those here that think war is never necessary or that someone is brain wahed if they go to war should read this statement by John Stuart Mill: WAR IS AN UGLY THING, BUT NOT THE UGLIEST OF THINGS. THE DECAYED AND DEGRADED STATE OF MORAL AND PATRIOTIC FEELING WHICH THINKS THAT NOTHING IS WORTH WAR IS MUCH WORSE. THE PERSON WHO HAS NOTHING FOR WHICH HE IS WILLING TO FIGHT, NOTHING WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY, IS A MISERABLE CREATURE AND HAS NO CHANCE OF BEING FREE UNLESS MADE AND KEPT SO BY THE EXERTIONS OF BETTER MEN THAN HIMSELF. Thailand is full of avid Buddhist, but they are the only country never colonized and have always been free. If you prefer slavery then death then I guess then I guess that is what you deserve. If Buddhism is about right action then preventing such a state of oppression is sometimes the right thing to do. If you enjoy and act on the freedoms other have obtained for you, are you not just as involved?
- —Guest Johnny
Is Pacifism Always Right?
- First things first. Pacifism is defined as the belief that war is wrong. To believe that war is wrong under any circumstances is indeed too simplistic, even insensible. It is a well-known fact that Japan became committed to pacifism only after the explosion of the atomic bombs over Hiroshima & Nagasaki. However, if you ask a Japanese what he thinks of war, he will say, "I don't want to fight, but if compelled to, I will fight!" Some apparently starry-eyed Buddhists have questioned if it was even right for the atom bomb to be used against Japan in the first place. Although Buddhists generally abhor violence & war, the sensible ones will always look at the larger picture, as it were. In this context, if the atom bomb were not used to put a swift end to the war, much more lives and untold misery & suffering would have resulted therefrom. I hope I'm not stirring up a hornet's nest in giving my personal opinion and i believe, touching on a somewhat sensitive issue.
- —Guest albertlian7
War and Buddhism
- I agree with Guest john about support jobs. I am a buddhist in the military. Instead of taking a job offered to me in a primary Combat role, I chose a job as a Cook, and trained up in advanced medical first aid as well.
- —Guest Jayson
Buddhist Ex-Soldier
- I served in the US military and I'm a buddhist. I still have my dog tags that say Buddhist on them. We are taught that all violence is lamentable and negative. We are also taught that many things, something as simple as cutting someone off on a road can generate negative karma. There are no rules as to which karma is worse except our own views. To step on an ant is an act of murder, yet many people often smash them in their households for no purpose other than annoyance. I felt and feel that my service prevented the loss of life, human and otherwise. It is unfortunate for good sometimes there must be negatives but such is life.
- —Guest Jeffrey
Buddhist Military Historian
- I recently (2008) completed a masters degree in military history at Norwich University in Vermont. I wasn't surprised to find that I was one of maybe three Buddhists in the entire program. My views were greeted with some degree of skepticism (why study war when you're a pacifist?), of course. Still, I feel it's a worthwhile endeavor to study something like war so that we can better prevent it. I also recall a story about the difference between a sword that harms and one that saves. Is it not worthy to stop someone from hurting other people, even if it means that that person is killed? Thankfully I've never had to make that decision myself
- —Guest Glen C.
Principles, not rules
- Guest Mohsin has an interesting point. "your only purpose in that role is to support the combat...so you are still actively contributing to the combat and the killing." This is true. And yet many of us pay our taxes which go to fund the weapons used for killing. Do you feel that the middleman absolves you of blame? "War is always wrong because killing and violence are always wrong." This is true, but incomplete. I think you are implying that because it is wrong it should never be option you pick. Yet sometimes doing nothing is also wrong. You may come to a crossroads in which both paths will lead you to violate your principles, to think otherwise is naive. This does not absolve you of the responsibility of making a choice and your actions still have effects for which your are solely responsible.
- —Guest Carl
ida
- I feel there is a part missing in anyones life who choses to go to war half way around the world. It is foolish if he believes he is fighting for his country. He is there because he/she has been brainwashed. by the Corporate greed. A lot of weapons means a lot of money for the creators of weapons of war. The young soldiers lives mean nothing to the Government, Leaders, organizations & corporations. So sad they come home in boxes. crippled maimed for life and are forgotten like last years harvest. War and War Mongers are evil...
- —Guest Ida Snow
War and Buddhism
- ‘The Buddha teaches that all warfare in which man tries to slay his brothers is lamentable. But he does not teach that those who are involved in war to maintain peace and order, after having exhausted all means to avoid conflict, are blameworthy.’
- —Guest Gene
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