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"The Dalai Lama said acts of violence should be remembered, and then forgiveness should be extended to the perpetrators. But if someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, he said, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun. Not at the head, where a fatal wound might result. But at some other body part, such as a leg." -- From the Seattle Times, March 1, 2013 coverage of a speech given to 7,600 Oregon and southwest Washington high-school students.
One can hardly conceive of a more vocal and passionate advocate of peace, forgiveness and compassion than Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. While he does not advocate killing an opponent (nor would I expect him to), it appears that even HE recognizes that there is a time for a forceful -- even violent -- response to protect one's life or the life of others.
His predecessor, Thupten Gyatso, His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama, who died in 1933, would also appear to have shared the same sentiments. In 1932, only one year before his death Gyatso wrote in his "Political Last Testament":
“In the future, this system [Communism] will certainly be forced either from within or without on this land…If, in such an event, we fail to defend our land, the holy lamas…will be eliminated without a trace of their names remaining;…our political system…will be reduced to an empty name; my officials…will be subjugated like slaves to the enemy; and my people, subjected to fear and miseries, will be unable to endure day or night.”
“.…we should make every effort to safeguard ourselves against this impending disaster. Use peaceful means where they are appropriate; but where they are not appropriate, DO NOT HESITATE TO RESORT TO MORE FORCEFUL MEANS” (emphasis added).
Buddhism is seen as inflexibly pacifist, and that is simply not true. Jampa Tenzin, a Buddhist monk explains -- “Generally, of course, non-violence is good, and killing is bad…But each and every thing is judged according to the circumstances of the situation, and, particularly in Buddhism, according to the motivations….In order to save a hundred people, killing one person may be acceptable…Individual, or self, motivation is obviously not allowed ... and unless we did something sooner or later we couldn’t practice religion…Dharma [had to] prevail and remain…even by violent means.”
It is hard to argue with these holy men. While I do not identify as fully Buddhist the teachings of the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, and other spiritual leaders like Eckhart Tolle inform much of my worldview. Even the core essence of "love thy neighbor" as taught by Christianity -- though, again, I do not identify as Christian -- resonates with me. I, too, wish peace and compassion for us all; but that is frequently not the nature of the world in which we live. Evil oftentimes comes to us, without our bidding or even without our direct instigation. That is the nature of evil.
I wish to live my life in peace, undisturbed and unmolested. I have trained for decades with hands, feet, knives and other weapons; I have shot a variety of guns with friends, but up until recently haven't owned one in years. I do not purposely seek out violence or destruction; I want safety for my family, friends and loved ones, and NEVER wish to be put in the position of having to take a life in order to assure that outcome. But be absolutely certain, if it came down to protecting those I care about, I would not hesitate in doing so. Violently if need be.
With all of the talk and debate and hue and cry over violence -- especially gun violence -- filling our airwaves and television screens day after day, ad infinitum, I felt it was apropos to share the thoughts of these great men ... and a few of my own.
Peace and Liberty.
