Violent Resistance in Buddhism

[Pathless]

I am interested in finding out more about violent resistance used by Buddhist monks. The recent burning of government vehicles by monks in response to killings in Burma/Myanmar piqued my interest:

The officials arrived at the monastery in the town of Pakokku to apologise for injuries caused during a protest on Wednesday about fuel price rises.
But angry monks set fire to their vehicles and refused to let them leave in one of the most heated of a series of protests over the price increases.

I found a children's book, The Story of Karate by Luana Metil, that sheds some light on the Shaolin monks and Kung-Fu:

"The monks believed life was sacred and should be defended. They would never start a fight, but they would fight to save their lives and protect their temple."

Until now, I've painted in my imagination Buddhist resistance as strictly non-violent, or if violent, then a suicidal protest, like the famous "self-immolation" or burning monks of the Vietnam era. It occured to me a while back in my own life that suicide is a self-defeating response to oppression and not a viable option for people who are truly committed to change. I'm wondering if anyone can share some knowledge with me about the non-aggressive, yet violent resistance against oppressive authority used by Buddhist monks throughout history. Books, stories, movies, expressive finger-painting exhibits, knock-knock jokes, etc. are all welcome.

Thanks and Peace,
Pathless

[Snoopy]

Knock knock.

Who’s there?

Sacred King Glang-dar-ma of Tibet.

What did he do?

He persecuted Buddhists.

What happened to him?

He was assassinated in 842 CE by a Buddhist monk.



s.

(an action entirely contrary to the dhamma of course - Non-violence).

[Pathless]

Thanks, Snoopy.

I have a joke, too.

"What's brown and sticky?"

"A stick."



That probably belongs in the lounge, though. Someone should start a joke thread.

Anyone else got some violently resistant Buddhists for me?

[dauer]

Also there are the sohei of Japan, warrior monks who weren't always very nice.

S& - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[wil]

So I've known of the Shaolin monks...a friend of mine...Tibetan Buddhist is a Kung Fu, Tai Chi master...He studied and taught marshal arts under Dennis Brown...Dennis was on the cover of many a mag in the 70's and worked with hollywood stars on their skills....he also takes a contingent of students to China every year...specifically to visit with/train with the monks in various monasteries.

I never knew enough about Buddhism to know it was contrary to the teachings. I did know that the exercise had the ability to increase focus for meditation and chi for healing....side benefit you could do some damage against an opponent...

[bob x]

What did the Dalai Lama say to the hot dog vendor?

"Make me one with everything!"

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by bob x

What did the Dalai Lama say to the hot dog vendor?

"Make me one with everything!"

<chuckle>

...and did the vendor reply

"You already are!"

s.

[Paladin]

Yes, and when His Holiness asked for his change, the vendor reminded him that "Change comes from within"

[Francis king]

it is a strange state of affairs, to find these peaceful monks being so, well.. not...

but... buddhism, ultimately, allows you to do what you think is right...

buddhism teaches us that sometimes, rules are to be cast aside, and we should do what we think is right, whether everyone else says it is or not...

and that's what the monks are doing- they're trying to act to bring change for the good of all people, to end suffering for the people... that's noble...

when considering what constitutes a negative action, the dalai Lama, in his translation of bodhi-patha-pradipa says we should consider-

...action (what we did), intention( why we did it), severity(how bad it was), outcome (what happenned afterwards), and finally, whether we committed such acts in the apprehension or non apprehension of an opponent...

so, technically, the monks actions, although not strictly the way, acted in the spirit of the way, they didnt torture and maim, setting fire to a few cars is not the same as setting fire to unwilling people, they did not harm living beings, which is what ahimsa is all about, people all around the world know how inscenced these peaceable monks are, so the outcome is a noble one, and yes, they acted in such a way to defeat an opponent...

so, all in all, the monks acts are in the spirit of the way...

in my opinion, at least...

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,

as Francis King has said, Buddhism isn't a pacifist tradition, it actively engages itself in the affairs of the world often in a violent and confrontational manner.

the salient point is that violence, insofar as it does not harm or kill other beings, is a perfectly acceptable form of action for a Buddhist, per se. each Buddhist, of course, would need to determine these things for themselves. i recall reading an essay from an abbot of a Thai monestary that claimed he would put down his robes and take up a weapon to kill communists if they invaded his country.

one can fight without killing and not be outside of the auspices of the Buddha Dharma. one can defend their home and selves to the best of their ability without killing the assailant.

though, perhaps a subject for another thread, there is a fairly common misconception regarding Buddhism as eschewing any form of confrontation, especially physical, by many beings that have not been exposed to a broader history of Buddhism in the cultural millieu of Asia.

metta,

~v

[Pathless]

Thanks for the replies, Vajradhara and Francis. Those are helpful in creating a clearer picture of a Buddhism that must be committed to social action, sometimes in a confrontational manner, in order to uphold the sanctity of life.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

though, perhaps a subject for another thread, there is a fairly common misconception regarding Buddhism as eschewing any form of confrontation, especially physical, by many beings that have not been exposed to a broader history of Buddhism in the cultural millieu of Asia.

metta,

~v

Buddhism as an organised religion is as prone to becoming mixed up with race, nationality and politics as any other organised religion; whatever the founder of the religion may have said. I'm currently reading about how just such a thing has happened in Sri Lanka (amongst others of course, e.g. Japan).

s.