Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00506)

Aug 31st 1998

Dear Peter:

Many thanks for your sending the quotation from the Buddha on war.  That is
valuable.

Dallas

> From: "Peter A Tryde" <tryde@netvigator.com>
> Date: Monday, August 31, 1998 5:49 AM
> Subject: Landmines and Tibet

>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
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