Congress Is ‘Complicit’ In Orlando Slaughter, Senator Says

[greyl]

55. Let me guess; they'll say "they aren't real Buddhists."

Buddhism and violence
But Buddhism, like the other great faiths, has not always lived up to its principles - there are numerous examples of Buddhists engaging in violence and even war.

* in the 14th century Buddhist fighters led the uprising that evicted the Mongols from China

* in Japan, Buddhist monks trained Samurai warriors in meditation that made them better fighters

* In the twentieth century Japanese Zen masters wrote in support of Japan's wars of aggression. For example, Sawaki Kodo (1880–1965) wrote this in 1942:

"It is just to punish those who disturb the public order. Whether one kills or does not kill, the precept forbidding killing . It is the precept forbidding killing that wields the sword. It is the precept that throws the bomb."

* In Sri Lanka the 20th century civil war between the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority and the Hindu Tamil minority has cost 50,000 lives.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/war/buddhism.shtml

‘If ordered to march: tramp, tramp or shoot: bang, bang. This is the manifestation of the highest wisdom of enlightenment. The unity of Zen and war ... extends to the farthest reaches of the holy war now under way.’ (Zen Master Harada Daiun Sogaku – 1939).

‘Warriors who sacrifice their lives for the emperor will not die. They will live forever. Truly they should be called gods and Buddhas for whom there is no life or death. Where there is absolute loyalty there is no life or death.’ (Lieutenant Colonel Sugimoto Goro)

‘Since the Meiji period, our (Soto Zen) sect has cooperated in waging war.’ (Soto Zen Statement of Repentance – 1992).
http://www.actualfreedom.com.au/library/links/zenatwar....

Of course, that's not to say that there aren't Buddhist quotes and dogma that have peaceful messages. But ideals, words, and actions are different things, aren't they? In the end, Buddhism is a salvationist religion like Islam and Christianity.
"all life is suffering"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x47015