Sangha Live scheduled for 20-04-2025: Nonviolence as an ideal, war as a reality. Dilemmas of our time.
Sangha Live: Nonviolence as an ideal, war as a reality. Dilemmas of our time..
As a Buddhist chaplain in the Defense Department, I am confronted daily with the harsh reality of war and violence. This is of course in contrast to the principle of ahimsa (non-harm), which occupies a central place in the teachings of the Buddha and the eightfold path. 'Right intention', the second factor of the path, emphasizes avoiding harm to living beings, while 'right action', the fourth factor, explicitly calls for not killing.
At the same time, I experience a personal dilemma: how sustainable is the ideal of ahimsa in a world that is becoming increasingly complex, in which threats are constantly present? Is it ever justified to defend yourself as a country? During this Sanga evening, I want to reflect on this with you.
In preparation I wrote a diptych for Bodhitv.nl, which will serve as a starting point for our conversation. The article can be found here: https://bodhitv.nl/geweldloosheid-als-ideaal-oorlog-als-realiteit
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