Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!mustang!data.nas.nasa.gov!news From: kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans) Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern Subject: Re: Buddhists & the Gulf War Message-ID: <1991Feb2.012659.20376@nas.nasa.gov> Date: 2 Feb 91 01:26:59 GMT References: <1991Jan30.005811.533@nas.nasa.gov> Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Lines: 76 Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov In <1991Jan30.005811.533@nas.nasa.gov> SECBH@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Jack Carroll) writes: >As do many Buddhists, I take the Five Precepts daily. In the Sutra of the Great Assembly, Shakyamuni Buddha says that the time to practice the precepts is the first 500 years after his death. >The precepts are presented in several places in the Buddhist scriptures, >but they essentially enjoin the same conduct each time. In the >Dhammika Sutta of the Sutta Nipata, the Buddha says of the householder: >"Let him not destroy life nor cause others to destroy life, and also > not approve of others' killing. Let him refrain from oppressing > all living beings in the world, whether strong or weak." Sn 394. The buddha-nature is inherent to all life. At some time in the future, one may practice the Bodhisattva way and gain enlightenment and become absolutely happy. Killing a Buddha brings sever karmic retribution to the doer. >In certain cases a nation may consider it imperative to take >measures which are not compatible with a practice of non-violence. >Theistic religions can define a "just war" as one in the interests >of their god, and it can be so defined and blessed by a clergy >which derives its mandate from this god. Theistic religions do this becasue their religion obviously doesn't work (i.e., if they have to go against it to fulfill their own prophecies, such as the creation of the Isreali state in 1948) nor does the religion give them the wisdom to do it peacefully. Therefore, it is limited in scope. >This raises two types of questions for me. First, in what ways am >I causing and approving of others killing by continuing through what may >be the performance of very ordinary social and civic actions This fighting in your (our) environment is probably manifestation of karma from previous lifetimes. Even Saddam Hussein has the buddha-nature in his life, he is just deluded to it. What is needed is to spread Buddhism throughout the world (starting in your own` environment) so that as many people as possible can awaken from their delusion. >Second, in what ways can (should?) one not just refrain from certain >actions contributing to killing (the Gulf War in this case), >but rather become involved in positive actions which contribute to >the likelihood of non-violence. Nichiren Daishonin says that the basic cause of suffering is incorrect religious beliefs and false ideologies. This comes, not from himself, but from his study of the Buddha's sutras. >From his study, he proclaimed that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was ultimate Law of cause and effect and the cause to eradicate suffering is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Doing not only will change past karma, but will change immutable karma (karma to be experienced in future lives) and allow one to become absolutely happy in this lifetime (one can't be happy, if noone or someone is not). >I think that one of the great stumbling blocks, which Chogyam >Trungpa among others has pointed out, is that in attempting to act in >a manner which we see as counter to hate and aggression, we often >escalate our activities in such a way that they reflect the same >anger and aggression. This comes from one belief's don't allow one to live the way they want to. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo does allow one to act the way that they believe. Its the difference between a true religion and false one. You can't really understand until you try chanting. -- Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Respectfully, Keith Evans kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov