Given human beings' love of truth, justice, peace and freedom, creating a better, more compassionate world is a genuine possibility. The potential is there.
The Dali Lamas words, but as close to a definition of pacifism as I can think of. You have to remember that I am a Buddhist and the intention is the important thing in buddhism, I try work towards a world where each life has the potential to live in peace and move towards enlightenment - I don't always get it right (I am far from being an awakened being) but I do try. If we all tried to minimise the violence around us the world could be a very different place. On 12/18/05, Gruss Gott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Wayne wrote: > > called all sorts of names, after being laughed at and derided, the > > "loonies" are being proved right about things like human rights, the > > environment, corrupt corporations and governments etc. > > > > I totally agree with you on all of the issues you mention. I'm just > commenting on pacifism. > > A true pacifist must be willing to stand down when they, their family, > or anyone is physically attacked. If they believe in using violence > for defense, then they are not a pacifist. > > Soldiers, at least western soldiers, are trained to defend themselves, > their families, and other innocents from violent attack. This is > quite different from your description of "killing just because someone > told them to". > > You misunderstand. Soldiers are trained at organized defense against > those that would do you or your wife harm. Put another way, soldiers > are willing to defend those who cannot or will not defend themselves. > And they are trained to do this as a team. > > If protecting your wife from harm means killing an aggressor, then a > soldier will do that. If you are also willing to use violence to > protect your wife, then you and the soldier are no different in your > willingness to kill. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:188677 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
