Harsha~Pacifism

[Guest guest]

Harsha,

 

Thank you for your gentle insights and thank yous,

you are really a pleasure to read.

 

Wanted to say that my grandfather who i mentioned

last night was not a soldier but a pacificist who

helped Jews get out of Europe, he was shot anyway,

but i did not want you to think i was advocating

anything other than peace :-)

 

L*L*L ~ Rainbo ~

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 13:42:42 EDT RainboLily writes:

> RainboLily

>

> Harsha,

>

> Thank you for your gentle insights and thank yous,

> you are really a pleasure to read.

>

> Wanted to say that my grandfather who i mentioned

> last night was not a soldier but a pacificist who

> helped Jews get out of Europe, he was shot anyway,

> but i did not want you to think i was advocating

> anything other than peace :-)

>

> L*L*L ~ Rainbo ~

>

Thanks for telling your ancestor's

story. It's good to be reminded

that what are often thought of as

soldierly virtues -- physical

courage, self-sacrifice, and

willingness to go silent or even

lie to protect others -- are not

exclusive to those who bear arms.

Veterans will often tell stories

of the bravery of those who've

served in "non-combatant" roles,

including unarmed nurses and

medics who served despite (or

perhaps because of) their deep

commitment to peace. When Arjuna

finally declared that he would no

longer fight, surely there was no

doubt of the boundless courage

implicit in that surrender.

 

 

http://come.to/realization

http://www.users.uniserve.com/~samuel/brucemrg.htm

http://www.users.uniserve.com/~samuel/brucsong.htm

_

 

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/8/99 10:59:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time, editor

writes:

 

<< When Arjuna

finally declared that he would no

longer fight, surely there was no

doubt of the boundless courage

implicit in that surrender >>

 

Well, not if we read Krishna's response. Krishna was most critical of

Arjuna's "weakness" and emotional attachment. As he lectured, Arjuna that

all people are born, die and are born again and that physical existence is at

most a sort of temporal illusion. Krishna was not a pacifist and would urge

that we always fight tyranny for the right purpose, rather than to allow

greater tragedies to occur.

 

Now, I am not saying that I take Krishna's side over Arjuna's, but as a young

man who had to contemplate military service, the argument, or discussion in

the Bhagavad-Gita was certainly very thought provoking. Most people think of

it as endorsing pacifism, but it in fact endorses the exact opposite. Of

course, it does not advocate violence where violence can be avoided...but it

does advocate brave and stalwart defense of liberty and what is right in the

face of the unavoidable attack by an enemy.

 

Hey. Remember, I am not responding to comments. So, please ignore my

remarks if they upset anyone.

 

Blessings,

Love,

 

Zenbob