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Article: Monks with guns

Now-Is-realityNow-Is-reality
edited February 2011 in Buddhism Basics
http://www.utne.com/GreatWriting/Monks-with-Guns-Buddhist.aspx

Old article I know... but...

Hmmm... I don't know what to think of that. I don't think it's fair to label all of buddhism because some monks in thailand are human and have a wish to protect themselves, despite an infringement on basic precepts.... thoughts?

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    If it's self-defence, I get it.

    However, there is some evidence to indicate (and I'm also thinking of unrest in Burma/Myanmar) that some so called 'monks' were actually trouble-makers disguised as monks, who infiltrated monasteries to give monks a bad name.
    it has happened, in china too....I can't say for sure if this is the case here, but nothing would surprise me.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    What about all those bulletPROOF monks out there?
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    What about the Tibetan warrior-monk tradition?
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    What about the Tibetan warrior-monk tradition?
    What about it? Please tell us more. I've never heard of it? Do you have a source to cite?

  • zenffzenff Veteran
    Warrior monks are part of Japanese history.
    Different sects of Buddhism struggled for power and engaged in armed conflict, using “monks” as their troops.

    I can find enough info about struggles for power between Buddhist sects in Tibet, which result in civil war, but I don’t see the monks did the actual fighting.

    The difference between the two is futile though, I think.
    When you label your soldiers as “monks” you got yourself some “warrior-monks”.


  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    edited February 2011
    One source on the Tibetan warrior-monks is Tashi Tsering's autobiography "The Struggle For Modern Tibet". If I find an internet source, I'll post it.
    The monasteries hundreds of years ago used to battle each other, or raid each other, and needed an armed force in residence to protect themselves. But now in more peaceful times, the warrior monks are still there. One of their functions is to track down boy novices who have run away, and bring them back. (Monks are allowed to leave the monastery only when they turn 21, if they so choose.)
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