Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00502)

Further to the recent postings,  it may be of interest to cite what
the Buddha said on the subject of war:

One day, Sinha, the general of the army, went to the Buddha and
said, " I am a soldier, O Blessed One. I am appointed by the King
to enforce his laws and to wage his wars. The Buddha teaches
infinite love, kindness and compassion for all sufferers: Does the
Buddha permit the punishment of the criminal? And also, does the
Buddha declare that it is wrong to go to war for the protection of our
homes, our wives, our children and our property? Does the Buddha
teach the doctrine of complete selfsurrender? Should I suffer the
evil-doer to do what he pleases and yield submissively to him who
threatens to take by violence what is my own? Does the Buddha
maintain that all strife including warfare waged for a righteous cause
should be forbidden?"

The Buddha replied, "He who deserves punishment must be puni-
shed. And he who is worthy of favour must be favoured. Do not do
injury to any living being but be just, filled with love and kindness.
All warfare in which man tries to slay his brothers is lamentable.
Struggle must exist, for all life is a struggle of some kind. But make
certain that you do not struggle in the interest of self against truth
and justice. He who struggles for peace and truth will have great
reward; even his defeat will be deemed a victory.

"If a person goes to battle even for a righteous cause, then Sinha,
he must be prepared to be slain by his enemies because death is the
destiny of warriors. And should his fate overtake him, he has no
reason to complain. But if he is victorious his success may be
deemed great, but no matter how great it is, the wheel of fortune
may turn again and bring his life down into the dust. However, if he
moderates himself and extinguishes all hatred in his heart, if he lifts
his down-trodden adversary up and says to him, "Come now and
make peace and let us be brothers,"  then he will gain a victory that
is not a transient success; for the fruits of that victory will remain
forever.

"Great is a successful general, Sinha, but he who conquers self is the
greater victor. This teaching of conquest of self, Sinha, is not taught
to destroy the lives of others, but to protect them. The person who
has conquered himself is more fit to live, to be successful and to gain
victories that is the person who is a slave of self. The person whose
mind is free from illusion of self, will stand and not fall in the
battle of
life. He whose intentions are righteousness and justice, will meet with
no failures. He will be successful in his enterprise and his success
will
endure. He who harbours love of truth in his heart will live and not
suffer, for he has drunk the water of immortality. So struggle courage-
oursly and wisely. Then you can be a soldier of Truth."

Kind regards.
Peter