• Archive through May 15, 2002 May 15 - 05:50 pm [20]

I always wondered what was going on, because in many applications you see the suspect just sitting there while the guy ties him up...

Turns out that just like today, the majority of suspects, once they were caught, submitted to authority and were willingly arrested and tied.

Kit,

How's life in Mayberry?

I think the first mention of japanese arts are back in 500 something BC. I'll also venture to say that nothing came from shoalin - the buddisht monks don't fight they don't even hurt bugs let alone humans - if you do some reading in real history books, you might find that criminals and bandits or soldiers from the ousted kingdom hid at the temples and learned meditation and worked on their martial arts from that point

All grappling techniques come from Van Nuys, California, circa 1979.

I'll bet Carl Gotch would love that one.

Um, Fred, you have something of a narrow understanding of Buddhism. While there are those who would act like Jains and not hurt so much as a worm, Buddhist monks have a long and colorful history of violence amongst themselves and with others. Remember that video a few years back of a Korean SWAT team bungling a raid? Guess what the raid was on? A Buddhist temple. The monks were holed up with assault rifles.

This could be an entire string of discussion itself. who are the buhdist monks. I doubt that Gautama Buddha would have holed himself up with any weapon, I think that incident in Korea might actually illustrate my point. how did it end? was anyone killed or hurt? I honestly don't remember. I do remember the monk setting himself on fire during the vietnam war.

The immolation thing was actually an old way to curse people in many asian cultures.

Be it in keeping with the teachings of the Buddha or not (most of which are as open to interpretation as any other religion, and I base that on the sutras I've read) there is definately many cases of monk-on-monk violence, and others of them acting either in self-defense or a all-out combatants. Black hats vs. yellow hats in Tibet, countless temples in China vs. local troops, to say nothing of the political struggles in feudal Japan.

As for the incident in Korea, as I recall, it was a succession issue that started a feud between temples, I believe they were Mahayana. Monks of one temple had taken hostages, the government sent in SWAT teams. Several SWAT officers were injured, more in the accident that dumped them five stories than the fire coming from the monks. IIRC, the monks surrendered eventually.

When did it happen? I cant seem to find any mention of it on the net.

Did you notice that Sri Lankan monks had a public meditation as protest AGAINST the cease fire this week?

I searched and searched but I couldn't find a link either. I did find some interesting stuff on arson inicidents on Korean temples though. It was 1999, I think.

Yeah, Sri Lanka is a good example of Buddhist clergy acting quite unlike people would expect. The majority government is Buddhist, the ethnic majority is Buddhist, and they have been waging war with the Hindu Tamils forever.

I remember this when I was in Asia. One thing you have to understand is the Korean culture. They are quite the protesters, it runs in their blood. Also, those monks were not the really the "real" monks that would gain your true respect to the highest degree.

Then again humans are humans too in all religions. Recall Wako?

People should not have expected "real" Catholic priests to be molesting children, but they did nonetheless.

My point is that Buddhism has been lionized in the west as some kind of perfect alternative religion. Fact is it has its fair share of dirty laundry and those who pervert its teachings to their own aims.

I've been a practicing Buddhist for six years, but I don't go near temples anymore. Too many people obsessed with the idea of Buddhism and what it can do for them. That's missing the point, IMO.

In Asia I found two types of Buddhists.

The first type is those who just want your money. Any common sense individual can see through this.

The other type, which impressed me, is the type who are not evangelical in any sense. They are always there to help you if you ask and always have a warm goodbye. This really impressed me compared to Christianity...

...impressed you compared to the Christians you've met.

It is too well known to be repeated here that Buddhism advocates and preaches non-violence and peace as its universal message, and does not approve of any kind of violence or destruction of life.
-Walpola Sri Rahula

Anyone can practice non-violence, even army generals. They may, for example, conduct their operations in ways that avoid killing innocent people.
-Thich Nhat Han

Maybe somebody can help me, I am confused.

Shane,

Yes, you are correct, I have not met all Christians... It was just my own humble experience, that is all.

Gar mentioned Thich Nhat Han. He once sat on my rug. I'll sell in to you for $2,000.

BTW, there is a militant sect of Buddhists in Vietnam called the Hoa Hoa Sect. They have never been subjugated by the Vietnamese government as they enjoy too much public sympathy and have lots of guns.