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Dem riots in England!
Pretty sad stuff huh? 
Inhumanity caused by many causes and conditions due to Greed, Anger and ignorance
Sadly most people are yet again simply blaming "other people".
I hope none of you homeboys "scored" a new flat screen tv out of this if you happen to be a nubuddhist in London!!!
Inhumanity caused by many causes and conditions due to Greed, Anger and ignorance Sadly most people are yet again simply blaming "other people".
I hope none of you homeboys "scored" a new flat screen tv out of this if you happen to be a nubuddhist in London!!!
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Comments
Then my friend Yasho (the monk) added, "If it happens again, I'll do the same."
I couldn't help but get a good laugh out of that. That's how L.A. is. If there are riots here everyone will be ready to fight and defend themselves.
But if they are attacking people for no reason and robbing other poors im against.
Go to hell capitalism...
Its time for a new socialism not like USSR or China but a democratic socialism
from the people and for the people
And if it is a kill or die situation then who knows! Mind is complicated!
But if I am surrounded by riots, I most probably find a way out by running away instead of loading my gun and waiting them to come!
It seems to imply total pacifism.
I personally am not quit clear about my own level of khanti. In fact I’m pretty sure that at some point I will fight back; and I don’t think of it as being wrong.
I just thought this story is a nice contribution to the discussion here.
there is a history of warrior monks both in Japan and Tibet.
ahimsa does not implying not defending living beings (including "oneself") when attacked.
as an urban buddhist monk, i'm glad to be the wielder of Frænthir, Slayer of D'Asura (made in devanamanarati, currently in "sleeping" mode).
The sounds of wailing almost drown out the accompanying sounds of hands being washed!
We shall rush to comfort and reimburse those whom we judge worthy and who have been touched by the rioting - but only if we judge them "innocent". Let the rioters rot.
And let us enact stricter laws, build more prisons and deal with the problem that way, by sweeping it under the carpet.
Will nobody notice that people are angry? In Tahrir Square, it was anger at corrupt dictatorship, at disempowerment, at poverty. Can nobody see that the same sense of desperation and disinteritance exists here, in our allegedly prosperous and civilised West? So long as those in power and in the media manage to convince us that these riots, across the country, are, somehow, just spontaneous and entirely coincidental outbreaks of gross selfishness, with no valid political message such as that in Egypt of elsewhere in the Arab Spring, they will hope that their own corrupt patriarchies will be secure in their gated communities.
Not that I imagine that I have a solution. I just cultivate my garden, raise my children in the hope that they will be safe, greet my fiends and neighbours, and that's about it.
V.
Everything I've read about the issue so far, is so unsurprisingly cliche. It might be worth considering the fact that politicians are just people with jobs just like mostly everyone else. They're not all-powerful, and if they were what would the answer be?
Would it be a convenient 'top-down' solution the likes of which people faced in 1914? "Your country needs you (to die)!" What a way to reduce unemployment and poverty... how convenient. Of course, this wasn't planned, but one thing we don't have a shortage of right now is idle thumbs, hence the nationwide pattering of fingers.
One outcome (in case you weren't aware) of the great war was the welfare state. Instead of allowing people to starve to death in Victorian England, everyone was entitled to a piece of pie no matter what. Now we have a situation where the attitude is one of entitlement. The 'government' OWES you a living, no matter what. Ok, the 'poor' rioters. They're not starving to death. They're not wealthy either! The designer clothes and mobiles phones is all 'bling, bling' for sho.
Alright government... make some jobs for us! Make us educated! You know what? Some of the rioters have jobs. They were doing this because they *can* and nobody is doing anything about it. This is just one big primordial soup with really shitty ingredients in it. Try fixing that out at roots level.
Whatever your position on this, it's not so simple. You can't just make up an answer between breakfast and afternoon tea, and neither can I. This is caveman stuff with gold watches and ray bans. Fix the primordial male psyche- go on, be a pro and prevent the underclass from happening. Everyone else in history has tried. Give it a shot!
generalizing much?
...Anarchy in the UK.
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During the Sui period bandits assaulted the Shaolin monastery; this would become one of many attacks that would occur until the early twentieth century. During this first invasion, the monks attempts at defending their temple were futile, their skills were not accustomed to war techniques and it looked as if the temple would fall. A monk of the temple known only as the "begging monk" attacked several of the outlaws with an array of aggressive hand and foot techniques, killing and injuring some and driving the remaining attackers away. The other monks were so inspired by the display of this single monk that they requested tutelage in this martial style as a means of protection. In scripts this combating art was recorded as Chuan Fa or Fist Method. Chuan Fa translated into Japanese is Kempo, or in English is "Fighting Methods" or "Fighting Laws." This is the basis of most of the Asian Martial Arts in the world today.
Over several generations the warfare arts of the Shaolin temple grew into hundreds of styles in all over the next several centuries. A master of Chuan Fa called Ch'ueh Taun Shang-jen was said to have rediscovered the original Shih Pa Lo Han Sho which had been lost for many years. Ch'ueh integrated his art of Chuan Fa with that of the Lo Han styles increasing his total number of techniques from the original eighteen to total of seventy-two. Ch'ueh would promote his newfound style by traveling the country side of China fighting in matches until he encountered Chuan Fa master named Li in the province of Shensi. Li, developed his curriculum of Chuan Fa to that of one-hundred and seventy techniques. These moves were categorized into five unique groups renowned by an assortment of animals. Upon the return to the Shaolin temple of which both Ch'ueh and Li belonged they presented to the other monks the five animal forms - wu xing quan. These forms introduced to the Shaolin temple a new juncture in martial arts development.
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Many monks over the centuries have been trained in martial arts, quite possibly to avert such violence; I do not feel this makes them less worthy of wearing robes. Siddhartha was just a man, and would have likely defended himself against violence as well. A robe does not take away one's inherent instincts. The will to live is strong.
@ Mountains, hell? That sounds like a Western concept.Karma maybe...
Dont go to the extreme of pacifism wich is inmoral and harmful.
Defend yuorself and others with force if necessary
A few years ago a person tried to force their way into my apartment. I do not doubt that this person was armed and had harmful intentions. This incident convinced me to purchase a handgun, because I became instantly aware of the fact that had he succeeded at gaining entry, my girlfriend and I likely would have been at his mercy. I will never allow this to occur in the future. Given a choice between taking the life of someone who has chosen predatory violence as their occupation or hobby, or allowing this person to endanger the lives of those whom I love and respect - including myself - I will not hesitate to choose the former option. Is this demonstrative of my attachment to my 'self'? It may be, but the reality is that as long as one is active in the world, making choices and trying to produce ANY favorable outcomes, one is 'attached'. Would you choose to rescue a volume of rare books on the dharma teachings from a fire? Would such a choice represent undue attachment, or would it represent 'skilfull' intention to help the cause of universal enlightenment? Is there a difference?
At the same time, I do respect those rare individuals who have made the pledge of absolute non-violence. I simply hope that the full consequences and implications of such a stance are fully grasped.
Jack Kornfield relates a story of the Buddhists that had not yet been murdered by crazies that had taken power in Cambodia in the 70's. They were forced into a huge refugee camp. Those that had the power (well so to speak) had forbidden the people from any kind of spiritual display. Yet everyday they would all stop and chant the same thing. Does anyone remember what that was?
Looking at all the comments on here about all the "buddhists" talking about using violence to protect one's property one's own life shows the why the riot happened. Because everyone is so into themselves and they get greedy and self-fish when things are good and forget about all the poor people that supports their high position. When things are bad, people simply blaming the rich and the goverment instead of looking at how they are indulging their bad behaviour and caused their poor situation and moral to grow worse!
If you only want to defend yourself because of anger and self-love then your indulging your poison. If you fight to defend others and your country out of compassion and responsibility, your fighting against your poison!
Would you mind explaining why you are suddenly resorting to pseudo-upper-class British English? You merely expose yourself as the utter bezonian, the complete and utter clodpoll, nay, so much the dunderwhelp, the absolute fustilarian, a mere grout-head and completel;y pretentious jubbernowl by doing so....
I am totally spinning off here, I have been disappointed in our worldwide financial depression. First of all on the honesty. I got my masters abotu 5 years ago and have not been able to find appropriately paid employment, so it really started before anyone wanted to talk about it. Now they are saying it is almost over, end in sight, whew. Not true again. It is much more complicated than that. No wonder people are getting angry, I am getting angry at times. I just want to earn to basically support my family and I have debts and struggles and cut corners on basics all the time. Tired.
So here is where I am really disappointed, I thought maybe people would pull together. There are so many struggling, there are family and friends around, and still people feel alone and scared and desperate. At least i don't hear so many comments about someone who just needs to get a job, we realize that it is very difficult for even a basic job. But other than that, do we open our home to someone down on their luck who needs a safe place, do we make extra and invite them for dinner, do we make sure we call once a week to the friend who is looking for a job or just lost a relationship just to say hi, or do we stick to our safety and comfort levels with only those who are just like us and don't need our connection.
With that said, I would defend but not attack. It may not be for me alone, I could not easily let an attacker hurt my family or those around me who are weaker for many reasons. I think there is a way to dispassionately defend and not attack, besides you ever been to LA or another really packed city as I imagine Londan is? Where are you going to go? I am in denver, I pass countless homeless every day, I pass by the small businesses with the signs on the door because they were robbed and someone died, and just yesterday I was diverted through neighborhoods as the police mopped up an intersection (there was no evidence of a care accident, I assume a shooting). So I spend my energy focusing on making a safe place for the kids I take care of at 3 inner city schools, but if a threat comes to our school (again, it happens often) I will protect as best I can.
Nirvana :: Cessation
Anicca :: Impermanence
Anatta :: non-atmān
Dukkha :: Suffering, Misfortune // the problem
i see no control there, i see no monopoly of first use of force there, i see no allowance of wrathfull repression by a group of samsaraputram there.
F* the police!
1. Choices
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakable.
"Look how he abused me and hurt me, how he threw me down and robbed me."
Live with such thoughts and you live in hate.
"Look how he abused me and hurt me, how he threw me down and robbed me."
Abandon such thoughts, and live in love.
In this world hate never yet dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible.
You too shall pass away.
Knowing this, how can you quarrel?
How easily the wind overturns a frail tree.
Seek happiness in the senses, indulge in food and sleep, and you too will be uprooted.
The wind cannot overturn a mountain.
Temptation cannot touch the man who is awake, strong and humble, who masters himself and minds the dharma.
If a man's thoughts are muddy, if he is reckless and full of deceit, how can he wear the yellow robe?
Whoever is master of his own nature, bright, clear and true, he may indeed wear the yellow robe.
Mistaking the false for the true, and the true for the false, you overlook the heart and fill yourself with desire.
See the false as false, the true as true.
Look into your heart.
Follow your nature.
An unreflecting mind is a poor roof.
Passion, like the rain, floods the house.
But if the roof is strong, there is shelter.
Whoever follows impure thoughts suffers in this world and the next.
In both worlds he suffers and how greatly when he sees the wrong he has done.
But whoever follows the dharma is joyful here and joyful there.
In both worlds he rejoices and how greatly
When he sees the good he has done.
For great is the harvest in this world, and greater still in the next.
However many holy words you read, however many you speak,
What good will they do you if you do not act upon them?
Are you a shepherd who counts another man's sheep, never sharing the way?
Read as few words as you like, and speak fewer.
But act upon the dharma.
Give up the old ways - passion, enmity, folly.
Know the truth and find peace.
Share the way.