Buddhist Attitude to War

1
Buddhist Attitude to War
War really

• FREAKS ME

out!
2
War really
our Noble Truths
F R E A K S M E
ebirth
ightfold Path
OUT!
himsa
arma
kilful Means
etta
nlightenment
3
Four Noble Truths

1. There is suffering (dukkha)
2. The cause of dukkha is craving
3. Dukkha can stop if craving stops
4. In order to stop craving follow the eightfold path

Craving for things causes suffering
The causes for starting war are often to do with
craving for power, independence or money. For a
Buddhist these reasons for going to war will only
ever bring about dukkha for all.
Victory breeds hatred
4
Rebirth
Every thing you do, say or think will influence
how you are reborn.

• Kindness leads to heaven

Hatred leads to hell.
The Buddha said that the place you are reborn
into in your next life will reflect the sort of
person you decided to be in this life.
Hating your enemy enough to go to war against
them will lead to hell in the next life
Who created the burning iron ground in hell? The
Buddha has said that it is the workings of an
evil mind. In this way all fears originate from
your own mind
5
Eightfold Path
Eight ways of living that help develop wisdom
compassion
Two parts of the path are
Right action This means acting in a kind way to
others.

• Right livelihood
• A Buddhist will do a job in which they will help
  others.

ü
6
Ahimsa
The precept of not harming others

• The Five precepts help a Buddhist to lead a life
  that will produce lasting happiness for
  themselves and others
• The most important precept is Ahimsa
  non-violence

• I will avoid harming any living creature

The creature is
Whatever
7
Karma
Every thing you do, say or think, has a
consequence
Good actions lead to happiness
Bad actions lead to suffering

• selfLESSness
• Generosity, kindness,

• Selfishness
• craving, greed, anger

A Buddhist cant choose to be generous to some
people and angry towards others. Being angry with
his enemy will still bring suffering back to
himself.
8
Skilful Means
The intention behind the action

• Buddhists arent necessarily all pacifists
• When can a Buddhist use aggression?
• If it is to prevent evil

Grrr!
9
Metta
Developing loving kindness for all beings

• Think of all beings as connected to each other.
• Develop the same kindness for strangers as for
  your own mother or child.
• Could you go to war against your own adoring
  mother?

10
Enlightenment -
Nirvana
Nirvana is the end of all suffering
The cause of it is wisdom Which is to see all
as equal
It is the deathless state of bliss
And compassion Which is about treating
everyone equally
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How do these beliefs effect Buddhists?
During the Vietnam war. Some Monks burnt
themselves alive to protest against the needless
killing.
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Ashoka
Ashoka was once a great warrior who ruled most of
India
He fought a bloody war in which 100,000 men were
killed, 150,000 injured and thousands were
captured and retained as slaves.

• The sight of the slaughter involved in his
  conquest deeply affected his mind.

He renounced war and sought peace in Buddha's
teachings of love and ahimsa.
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Tibet

• In the 1950s China invaded Tibet

They had no real claim to the land
The rest of the world didnt help
Since then the leader of Tibet the Dalai Lama
Has struggled non-violently for recognition
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Dalai Lama
Sept 22 2003
and 9/11
he turned to serious topics, including the
terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,
non-
and his campaign to promote
violence
throughout the world.
More compassion
automatically opens our inner self," he said.
"Too much self-centered attitude closes our inner
door."
war is out
"The very concept of
of date,"
he said to applause.
"Destruction of your neighbour as an enemy is
essentially a
destruction
of yourself.
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Now write up your notes for each section

• Give each section a separate clear heading
• Should be divided in to 9 sub-headings
• F R E A K S M E (Thats 8!)
• How do these beliefs effect Buddhist attitudes
  to war? (This is the 9th subheading!)
• Remember these are revision notes so be clear!