[Buddha-l] Re: Buddhist pacifism

[curt]

I only call it "Christianizing" when it is done to the complete 
exclusion of taking seriously how the Dharma is applied in reality. Such 
appears, to me, to be the case with the "Buddhism is inherently 
pacifist" argument. "Taking seriously how the Dharma is applied in 
reality" would include, for instance, acknowledging that a nation run by 
Buddhist monks (Tibet) has never been pacifist, and that a nation in 
which Buddhism has been practiced for 1500 years (Korea) numbers among 
its national heroes a Zen Master who was the commander of a guerrilla 
insurgent army composed exclusively of Buddhist monks to fight against a 
foreign invasion.
- Curt

Richard Nance wrote:

>>But all we get is quotations, and interpretations
>>of Buddhist "ideas". This reveals a consistently "Christianizing"
>>approach to Buddhism, which explains why people who hold this view are
>>completely incapable of dealing with Buddhism as it actually exists and
>>has existed throughout its history.
>>    
>>
>
>This betrays a profound lack of knowledge of the Buddhist literary
>corpus. Curt, I suggest that you put down the Schopen and go have a
>look at the Pali commentaries, or Vasubandhu's Abhidharmako"sa, or
>"Saantideva's "Sik.saasamuccaya, or or any of the suutra commentaries
>preserved in Tibetan (most of which have been ignored by modern
>scholars). Or, for that matter, any number of other primary sources --
>there are thousands to choose from.  When you do, you'll find ample
>evidence that attention to "quotations and interpretations of Buddhist
>'ideas'" has long been a hallmark of Buddhism. Focusing on such things
>is a thoroughly Buddhist thing to do; the notion that such an approach
>to the tradition is somehow "Christianizing" is simply false.
>
>Best wishes,
>
>R. Nance
>
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