Very controversial topic for a Buddhist publication!
Very well written articles.
Everyone should subscribe who is interested in consciousness. You don’t have to be Buddhist to appreciate
the interviews, discussions, contemplations, and artwork.
As a peaceful warrior, I particularly resonated with these discussions.
Being the designated heretic, I have some comments.
Also, at the beginning of this blog I did promise to discuss
sex, drugs, guns, and rock n’ roll!
We’ve discussed sex and drugs.
Guns and liberals don’t usually “go together.” I’ve done Karate since age 17, trained in the
use of all sorts of weapons. Best book
for this discussion is the book “Gun Guys.”
That probably best reflects my own interest in high-level target
shooting. Read it, then we’ll talk. http://www.danbaum.com/Nine_Lives/About_Gun_Guys.html
As an aside, I resonate the most with my training in Aikido,
truly a non-aggressive martial art.
Let us start at the end.
War will exist as long as there are people who consider
“others” to be less than human.
You usually do not kill people who are in your family, unless,
you are drunk or under the influence of other drugs. However, drugs are a topic for another day.
So, the higher you are on the evolutionary scale, the less
likely you are to be able to kill another.
Because there is no “other.”
Everyone is in your family.
Everybody is yourself!
Back to the fascinating articles. Ann Wright resigned from the US State
Department influenced by Buddhist teachings.
Yet, she still says: “I think
there are some specific situations in which military force may be the only way
to stop violence” (p 9).
Jon Kabat-Zinn was interviewed for what I think is the central
issue (p 14).
Jon stripped religion out of Vipassana Buddhist meditation
and created a program for mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) acceptable
to the medical system and to more of the general public.
Elizabeth Stanley wanted Jon to help teach mindfulness to
soldiers. Jon was reluctant at
first. Then relented.
The idea is to protect soldiers from PTSD, and to increase
their mindfulness. To interact better
with civilian populations. To be more
aware when they are pulling the trigger.
Perhaps preventing civilian deaths.
Good articles and discussions. No easy answers.
How do you reconcile Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha with
war?
Non-harming?
Of course, what we really need is for those who send
soldiers to war, the administration, to be higher on the scale of consciousness. Then they would be less likely to send these
poor children to unnecessary wars.
This begs the question, “is any war necessary?”
Teaching mindfulness is a good thing. Training healthier minds is worthwhile.
But, do not fool yourself into thinking that you are not
creating a better soldier.
They will be better at killing.
More efficient, more accurate, perhaps less “friendly fire.”
You are not automatically creating a peacenik.
Well, some of those who develop a high enough level of
consciousness may not be able to kill, and they will leave the service.
Perhaps you are more likely to create a more “peaceful
warrior.”
Remember, the Samurai had high levels of conscious control
over their emotions and actions.
There have always been monk-warriors.
I agree. You will
have less PTSD and less unethical behavior.
There will be less suffering for the soldiers, their families, and the
civilians around them.
If there are wolves, then you may need sheepdogs.
But, remember, sheepdogs have sharp teeth and look a lot
like wolves. That makes sheep nervous.
Perhaps the qualities of mindful awareness and emotional
control developed through meditation practice will help prevent sheepdogs from
degenerating into wolves.
The movie “Demolition Man” has some good lessons.
When everyone is peaceful, you do not need soldiers.
When you need a soldier, create the best, and most
mindful.
And, most importantly, only send them to war under the most
just of circumstances.
If any war can be considered “just.”
Namaste.
