“That is not the Buddhist view but a twisted, westernized misconception of it. Buddhist view is not passivist in nature, far from it, but holds to a view of non-aggression which is a much different thing.”
My point was that Buddhism died out from South-Central Asia due to it being too passive when facing aggressive enemies. Buddhism was wiped out of existence in places... why? Where was the resistance?
I remember when the Taliban blew up Buddha statues in Afghanistan, many non-Buddhists were outraged, but Buddhists were just calm as usual facing that enemy. Since they aren’t attached to that statue, they can take a moral high ground. After all, those statues mean nothing to a TRUE Buddhist.
It is that attitude in ancient times(not modern western interpretation — which is btw more closer to the original Buddhist philosophy) that caused the downfall of Buddhism in areas that it originated.
I remember when the Taliban blew up Buddha statues in Afghanistan, many non-Buddhists were outraged, but Buddhists were just calm as usual facing that enemy. Since they aren’t attached to that statue, they can take a moral high ground. After all, those statues mean nothing to a TRUE Buddhist.
There aren't any Buddhists in Afghanistan anymore nor have there been for about a thousand years. You may think those statues don't mean anything to a "true" Buddhist but what they mean to this Buddhist is not something to kill someone for. Nor is any material ritual object. That's not passivism that's weighing objective reality with a clear mind and an open heart.
Knowing that the consequences of all actions are inevitable why would I waste a moment concering myself with the fate of those idiots who blew them up? There was an article posted here on FR not too long ago about the guy who ordered their destruction. He's worm food now. I'm sure he did something worthy of that which blowing up a chunk of rock is not.