I am a former correctional officer and a Buddhist. When I was working as a C.O., I was very conflicted about this work in relation to the 8 fold path and "Right Livelihood". I always wondered if this is a correct choice for someone who is serious about their Buddhist faith. Use of force is a very real possibility. C.O.s are trained in weaponsm, including guns, although it would be very rare if they were used. Is a Buddhist a positive role model for inmates or is their compassion better suited for other professions? In the prison system, you contribute(however indirectly) to the suffering of inmates, especially those who would be better served through treatment(drug users, etc.). This always was an issue for me, as I know there must be many Buddhist C.O.s in Asian countries!
2007-01-22
04:53:47
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6 answers
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asked by
Angela M
2
in
Religion & Spirituality