No subject

Though traditionally regarded as a peaceful religion, Buddhism
has a dark side. On multiple occasions over the past fifteen
centuries, Buddhist leaders have sanctioned violence, and even
war. The eight essays in this book focus on a variety of Buddhist
traditions, from antiquity to the present, and show that Buddhist
organizations have used religious images and rhetoric to support
military conquest throughout history.

Buddhist soldiers in sixth century China were given the
illustrious status of Bodhisattva after killing their
adversaries. In seventeenth century Tibet, the Fifth Dalai Lama
endorsed a Mongol ruler's killing of his rivals. And in
modern-day Thailand, Buddhist soldiers carry out their duties
undercover, as fully ordained monks armed with guns.

Buddhist Warfare demonstrates that the discourse on religion and
violence, usually applied to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity,
can no longer exclude Buddhist traditions. The book examines
Buddhist military action in Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia,
Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and shows that even the most unlikely
and allegedly pacifist religious traditions are susceptible to
the violent tendencies of man.

REVIEWS
"Anyone with idealized notions of Buddhism as a religion fully
committed to peace and non-violence will benefit from this fine
collection.
Outlining how a range of Buddhists have participated in war and
justified this apparent violation of their ethical principles,
these essays shed new light on sacred violence, just-war
discourse, religious nationalism, and religious institutions'
collaboration with the state.
This is a rich and timely book." ---Christopher Ives, author of
Imperial-Way Zen

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
           Michael Jerryson

Buddhism and War
           Paul Demiéville

Making Merit through Warfare According to the
Arya-Bodhisattva-gocara-upayavisaya-vikurvana-nirdesa Sutra
           Stephen Jenkins

Sacralized Warfare: The Fifth Dalai Lama and the Discourse of
Religious Violence
           Derek F. Maher

Legalized Violence: Punitive Measures of Buddhist Khans in
Mongolia
           Vesna A. Wallace

A Buddhological Critique of “Soldier-Zen” in Wartime Japan
           Brian Daizen Victoria

Buddhists in China during the Korean War (1951–1953)
           Xue Yu

Onward Buddhist Soldiers: Preaching to the Sri Lankan Army
           Daniel Kent

Militarizing Buddhism: Violence in Southern Thailand
           Michael Jerryson

Afterthoughts
           Bernard Faure


Anyone who wishes more information may contact me off list, or
visit Amazon.com to view more of the volume:

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Warfare-Michael-Jerryson/dp/019539
4844/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259727039&sr=8-1

best,

Michael


--
Michael Jerryson
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Eckerd College - Letters
Collegium 4200 54th Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
jerrysm at eckerd.edu
--
 Michael Jerryson
 Assistant Professor
 Eckerd College, Florida
 jerrysm at eckerd.edu