non-violence

[Guest guest]

Dear Siri Gian Singh

 

I have studied the practice of non-violence and taught tactics of

non-violent direct action to Earth First! activists. Thich Nat Hahn,

a Vietnamese Buddhist monk (you may be interested in his book 'Peace

is Every Step'), makes a point that no matter how non-violent you try

to be you will still be killing organisms in the water when you make

a cup of tea. There are sects who practice non-violence to the extent

that they try very hard not to step on bugs. The fact that we live

seems always to involve some forms violence. Indirectly, the choices

we make at the grocery store may perpetuate violence. From what I

have learned the goal is to minimize violence and open yourself to

compassion for all beings. Most codes of non-violence would reject

killing someone even to save others but this does not necessarily

mean standing aside. Stopping the killer without harming him would be

best. It would be hard to reason with a crazed killer but sometimes

asking someone why they are committing acts violence and most

importantly listening to them defuses a situation. Refusal to be

intimidated can also defuse the power of violence. I think it is hard

for most of us to know what we would do in a truly drastic situation.

I think of the plane that went down in Pennsylvania a month ago.

Apparently a few of the passengers aboard realized the plane was

headed for a populated target and in moments decided to tackle the

hijackers and bring the plane down in a field killing all on board

but saving the would-be target. All on board would have died had they

hit the target but it seems apparent violence was minimized by the

passengers jumping the hijackers. Do you think they made the right

decision?

 

Peggy Sue

 

 

Message: 17

Wed, 10 Oct 2001 17:46:02 -0700 (PDT)

Cameron <kundalini83

Absolute Non- Violence?

 

Sat Nam! It's been a while since I’ve written to the

list, but I have enjoyed learning from you all. I too

have just recently received my spiritual name, it is

Siri Gian Singh (lion of great knowledge and wisdom).

And as seems to be common, it came when it was least

expected. However, I do have a question for everyone,

which I have been pondering. Is it right to kill a

man, if in turn a 10, 100 men, or even one other man

will be saved? Or...Should one practice Ahimsa

(non-violence) to its fullest extent. Should one

stand aside as a man kills another man...knowing that

this man will suffer the karma for his action, and

that the soul of the dead man’s body is untouchable

and will be reborn? Say the man wasn’t killed but

injured instead, shouldn’t one attempt to prevent his

injury? (first with non-violence, but if all else

fails, by means of violence itself?) I thank you for

any ideas you may have on this subject.

 

Siri Gian Singh

[Guest guest]

Peggy Sue,

 

Thank you for your comments.

 

I agree with you that our goal as a non-violent people

is to minimize violence as much as possible, and that

it is almost impossible to be totally non-violent. In

most circumstances, I agree that violence can be

prevented in a peaceful way, but as you mentioned:

 

> I think of the plane that went down in Pennsylvania

> a month ago.

> Apparently a few of the passengers aboard realized

> the plane was

> headed for a populated target and in moments decided

> to tackle the

> hijackers and bring the plane down in a field

> killing all on board

> but saving the would-be target. All on board would

> have died had they

> hit the target but it seems apparent violence was

> minimized by the

> passengers jumping the hijackers. Do you think they

> made the right

> decision?

 

Yes, i beleive they were right in trying to stop the

hijackers, knowing their fate. It is a shame that the

plane still had to be brought down.

 

> It would be hard to reason with a crazed

> killer but sometimes

> asking someone why they are committing acts violence

> and most

> importantly listening to them defuses a situation.

 

This is very wise, and very true, thank you. If

everyone was a better listener, we would have many

less problems.

 

Also, I will see if i can get a copy of that book,

thanks.

 

Siri Gian Singh

 

 

 

Make a great connection at Personals.

http://personals.