When may a Buddhist be violent?

Answer 1

Never.
But he will defend himself. It is not viewed as violence but the preservation of life.

Answer 2

Buddhists don't believe in harming one another, even if someone harms them first--- that's why there are no violent protests in the name of Buddhism.
when they do protest something they feel is wrong, it is done peacefully.
there is no such thing as a "holy war" in the name of Buddhism, there are no people trying to convert anyone to become Buddhist, there were no responses like the "crusades" when people from Buddhist countries weren't allowed to practice.

Answer 3

When someone "tries to rub his belly for luck."

Sorry, couldn't resist. :>

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Let's test this question with an extreme case: is collective violence ever justified - as in war?

What questions must your Buddhist contemplate if he's urged to join his nation's Army, say during a crisis?

Check out this great blog post I found below (1.)

It quotes an interview with the Dalai Lama below, where he remarks that even war is sometimes necessary, if all other options have been exhausted. He specifically cites World Wars I and II and the defense of democracy here.

However, I get the sense that under Buddist thought, we must always think of the long-term. In the short term, to give a specific example, you might have to kill the home intruder threatening your family, but you cannot, and should not, escape the consequences of doing that.

...Part of which are spiritual consequences. Although I'm not a Buddhist myself, I admire the sensibility of this thinking. It seems to counsel that sometimes doing even the right thing will bring calamity down on oneself, and that that's part of life.

...

Back on the national level, I'm also thinking of Sun-Tzu, that fearsome ancient Chinese thinker on war. One of his main arguments was that the perfection of generalship was to defeat the enemy without a single drop of blood being spilled.

No, he was not Buddhist, but this seems like a practical consequence of adopting non-violent principles. If your nation is in a contest where conflict (not necessarily war) is unavoidable, national status and well-being are on the line... then it is always preferable to have established a means of obtaining your goals without war.

Not that politicians typically behave with such foresight. As often as not, the generals are called in only after the political establishment has screwed the situation up totally.

...

So. What do I conclude from this - what does one do when the choice is violence or death?

I'd have to say we must act - knowing that what we choose impacts our loved ones as well. To lay one's life down for one's principles is a formidable act. To lay one's family's life down for one's principles is monsterous.

Unfortunately, the really serious violence on this planet comes from threats to one's loved ones, not from threats to oneself. This I think is essential to grasp if one wants to bear Buddhist, or any non-violent, principles in action.

Answer 4

NEVER. Taoists may be violent, but not Buddhists. This is one of the reasons China is STILL occupying Tibet.

Answer 5

When Iran decides to introduce terrorism into Buddhist countries!

Answer 6

Never. One may watch a violent movie or video game, but that is not likely. I don't like violence.

Answer 7

Any time he or she chooses, the point is to choose not to be violent under any circumstances. It requires great skill to live with such self-discipline...