Posted on 07/11/2010 9:09:05 PM PDT by Lorianne
The Dalai Lama has sent a message of support for Armed Forces Day, which is next Saturday. In it, he writes of his admiration for the military. That is perhaps not so surprising. As he explains, there are many parallels between being a monk and being a soldier – the need for discipline, companionship, and inner strength.
But his support will take some of his western admirers by surprise, not least when it comes to his thoughts on non-violence.
Attitudes towards violence in Buddhism are enormously complex. There are some traditions that argue aggression, and killing in particular, is always wrong. But there are others which argue that killing can be good, when executed by a spiritually skilled practitioner who can do so with the right motivation. Tibetan Buddhism falls squarely into the latter tradition, and previous incarnations of the Dalai Lama have been such practitioners. The 13th, for example, modernised the Tibetan army.
What the present Dalai Lama argues, in his message of support, is that violence and non-violence are not always what they seem. "Sweet words" can be violent, he explains, when they intend harm. Conversely, "harsh and tough action" can be non-violent when it aims at the wellbeing of others. In short, violence – "harsh and tough action" – can be attitudinally non-violent. So what should we make of that?
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Just those that think that the Dalai Lama will save them from all the violence... Just ignorant thinking to me...
Sorry, but people who think like that are living in a world all to their own.
You have been a practitioner for a long time. La jyalo! 12 years for me.
Despite Buddhism being beset everywhere with the sappiest of fawning zombie liberals, none of these people have the remotest clue what the Dharma is all about.
I asked about that once. The answer was so simple as to be obvious. The Dharma is medicine for those who need it. Who is more in need of medicine for the mind than a liberal? Of course no one is forced to take it even though it doesn't do much just sitting in the medicine cabinet.
Some people might consider it ignorance to assign the exact opposite meaning to what someone had said. ;-)
Ah, yes they might... except this is exactly what the believers here in the wonderful Dalai Lama think. You do have to understand that stupid is stupid (ala Forest Gump).
I haven’t seen a single person say that. Including the Dalai Lama who was quoted as saying just the opposite in the article.
Right... Peace on Earth... Long live the good! Evil be banished!.. What else do you want to hear?
Please, this kind of worship is no better than those in the 60’s that painted flowers on their autos and spread their fingers in peace whenever they could. Just a lot of crap!
He can be for peace all he wants, but it is not going to happen in my lifetime!
I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about. The Dalai Lama didn’t say anything remotely like that and neither has anyone on this thread.
Call it my antagonism against this kind of people worship. This does get my dander up - don’t understand why people will put other people on a totem pole and worship them. Oh well, people do need their gods, even though it is an idol or just another human being..
No need to apologize to me for that statement. That's my thinking to a tee.
There are no gods in Buddhism and no one worships people. You are misinformed.
Heh, okay, no more talk about your Dalai Lama then okay? Works for me...
Buddhists do NOT worship the Dalai Lama. Those fawning individuals that you are referring to haven't the slightest clue what Buddhism or the Dalai Lama are all about, to say nothing of LongChenpa or the inestimable Milarepa, or any of today's brilliant teachers, NONE of whom are advocating worship of people - ANY people.
I think you have Al Gore and the Dalai Lama confused.
Well, it’s nice to see you coming out for your cause... I expect that there will be no more mention of the Dalai Lama in the future... Let’s see just how that works out...hah.
After all, he is just a man and of no significance...
Sorry, you gave it away there.. He is significant to you and why I have no idea... Just another individual in a lonely place (due to politics)...
There is no ‘cause.’ Just cause and effect. lol
The thing people don’t get is that buddhism is not so ultra-ahimsa (non-violence) as it’s predecessor religion: Jainism. The Jains take non-violence to an extreme, having no animal products and aiming not to even harm insects or bacteria.
That is one of the best things said tonight! Yes, and it does depend only upon your reaction. Not anybody else...
That is what Buddhism is. That is all that Buddhism is.
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