I'm a Buddhist, But Not a Pacifist

Opinion Journal ^ | 03/28/2002 | WOODY HOCHSWENDER

[Pokey78]

The events of last September have antiwar activists, Buddhists, and assorted doctrinaire lovers of peace in a bit of a twist. Here was an unprovoked warlike act, carried out with chilling premeditation, against innocent civilians, with a tremendous loss of life. Against such a quintessential evil, how could one not strike back?

[mv1]

The Dalai Lama is cool. This writer needs to realize that American Buddhism is LEFTY. Read TRICYCLE the Buddhist journal the woman editor would routinely slam the NRA. I hope there are more Buddhists like the writer and the Dalai Lama.

[Rightwing Canuck]

A cursory look at Japanese history will provide anyone with a view into Buddhism's non-pacifistic side - the samurai, for instance.

[William Terrell]

"When great evil occurs, great good will follow."

Like the Patriot Act.

[LarryLied]

A cursory look at Japanese history will provide anyone with a view into Buddhism's non-pacifistic side - the samurai, for instance.

Odd the writer didn't mention that. Or the Gurkhas. Or the fact that the Dalai Lama once had troops and adopted pacifism only when fighting became hopeless. But then this author was a writer for the New York Times. What should we expect? Accuracy?

[freeasinbeer]

While I agree with you on most points, I get from your post that apparantly Buddhism rolled in from California during the 60's. I think I have misunderstood you, but in case I haven't I will correct you. Buddhism is much older than the 60's. It first appeared in the US during the early 60's as many immagrants from Asia (Japan, China, Vietnam) began to make their way here. Obviously, many of them first arrived in California, and thus the religion was introduced to America in a large dose. Buddhism however has existed in some form since at least the 1892 worlds fair in Chicago, when the World Religious Council met.

Again, sorry if I meisunderstood you, I certainly don't want to lecture.

[LarryLied]

He (the Dalai Lama) rolls around New York City playing "holy man" in complete freedom because we have aircraft carriers.

Maybe that is because the USA pulled our support from his troops and left them to be slaughtered by the ChiComs. A CIA Himalayan Bay of Pigs. One which got little notice then or now. They wanted to fight. We bugged out.

[LarryLied]

Buddhism was popular among certain circles as early as the 1880's. The painter John La Farge and Henry Adams (grandson of John Quincy Adams) traveled to Japan to study Buddhism in 1886. The statue "Grief" in Rock Creek Park DC, dedicated to Adam's wife Marian (who committed suicide), was inspired by his studies.

[LarryLied]

With a few genuinely honest exceptions (and I have met less than a handful), Buddhism and its offshoots are subscribed to by a certain type of person in this country

I have met over 1,000 and they are not, in general, as you say. Dealt in Tibetan artifacts for over 10 years. Yes, the Hollywood crowd (we called them "Tibetan Snobs" or "healy-feelies" in the trade) are obnoxious. They have many hangers-on and wannabes too. But the majority of the Buddhists I know are normal and sincere. Great sense of humor, fun to deal with and they don't wear their religion on their sleeve. The flakes are usually passing through. One day they are Buddhists, next week it is Wicca (when they find out the rigors of Buddhism) then they go on to something else. But even that isn't anything to sneer at. Faith is a journey. Eventually most settle down and get into something solid. They are better people because they tried, shallow and insincere as they might have been at one time.

[xm177e2]

I thought the Samurai were Shinto, not Buddhist...

[Have Ruck - Will Travel]

They were usually both if I remember correctly.

Living here in Japan in this day and age, I can tell you that Japanese practice both as a mixture every day. Most people have Shinto Weddings and Buddhist Funerals. It is quite interesting.

I also know that many of the Samurai class studied Zen Buddhism as a supplement to their warrior training. Also, there were some sects of Buddhist monks who were QUITE effective fighters when they needed to be. I agree with the author that not all Buddhists are pacifists. Not by a LONG shot.

Take care,

Ruck

[Ultima Thule]

They started out Shinto, but over time more and more of them adopted Zen Buddhism until it became their dominant religion. (There were some Christian samurai, too.)