Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.

Would it be wrong for a Buddhist to join the RCMP?

SomeSayInFireSomeSayInFire
edited April 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Before I was ever a Buddhist (I just recently found the path, so bare with me. :) ) I had wanted to join the RCMP, I wanted to help people. But now, the idea of maybe having to wrestle someone to the ground or, violence of any kind is a major turn off....Although, in my head if it was a criminal, whats the difference of him going out and commiting other violent crimes, or me having to violently stop him? They see the same to me. But, different. I could compare myself to a criminal in the sense of being violent, but still I'd be putting them away and preventing them from further crimes and harming people...I cant make up my mind..
I'm 15 by the way, so I have lots of time to think. I would just enjoy some opinions from you guys. Thank you very much to anyone who answers. :)

For anyone that isn't sure the RCMP is, the national police force of Canada. :)

Comments

  • StephenStephen
    edited April 2010
    There's nothing wrong with any of that. Your intent is to help people, and we should all have great respect for the police.
  • patbbpatbb Veteran
    edited April 2010
    Ajahn Brahm address this in one of his speech.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/BuddhistSocietyWA#p/u/0/qulM37mcksA
    Unfortunately, I forgot which one so you will have to watch them all in order to find out. ;)
  • FoibleFullFoibleFull Canada Veteran
    edited April 2010
    This is Buddhism. Right? Wrong? Action leads to result. Stick your finger on the stove and you burn it. Right? Wrong? Maybe stupid ... oh, let's rephrase that to "maybe unenlightened". Well, aside from the Buddha, who isn't?

    Sure, join the RCMP, but remain aware of action-result. Decide what results you want, what actions will get you there. Move in that direction. Maybe it would be within the RCMP, maybe not. That's the individual's decision.
  • emelemel
    edited April 2010
    I can't think of a more enlightened historical figure than Dudley Do-right!:D
  • RenGalskapRenGalskap Veteran
    edited April 2010
    emel wrote: »
    I can't think of a more enlightened historical figure than Dudley Do-right!:D
    Yukon King, Sgt. Preston's lead sled dog. :-)

    "On King! On, you huskies!" is the RCMP equivalent of "Gone, gone, gone beyond!" from the Heart Sutra.
  • StaticToyboxStaticToybox Veteran
    edited April 2010
    As long as you do not abuse your authority and keep good intentions in your heart I see absolutely nothing wrong or incompatible with Buddhism in being a police officer. I tend to think that were I physically capable of it I would have become an officer myself.
Sign In or Register to comment.