Warrior monks?

Question

How come a pacifist religion like Budhism can have a subset of followers who are happy to fight and kill?

Is there some clause to the religion that says violence is acceptable under certain circumstances?

I may be mistaked, I have never actually met one, but they definatly feature in Japanese history and some Kung-Fu films.

And yes, I realise about the Crusades etc... I suppose I just have a higher opinion of Budhists (if only I could spell it!) than Christians.

They always appear, at least outwardly, to be strong in their faith without going too far and being zealots.

Answer 1

They developed their fighting as a result of being regularly ambushed while undertaking religious pilgrimages.

Answer 2

Shaolin Monks aren't "happy" to fight and kill, however the skills and mental discipline they aquire from their martial arts training fulfils part of the experience of being a monk and this allowed them to defend themselves when they were attacked.

Other groups of Warrior Monks such as the Order of St. John, Order of the Temple of Solomon and the Teutonic Order were actively aggressive rather than acting in self defence despite Christianity supposedly being a pacifist religion.

Answer 3

The warrior monks is a westernism and not at all the reality,

The Shaolin are monks dedicated to the budist philosophy of reaching Nervana (enlightenment) and often align themselves as guards for temples, lets face it there stuff you can steel from them. Their art is one used for defence not attack, restrain rather than harm, however in order to defend you have to understand what the threat is hence all the training with swords n stuff. To kill is not forbidden in Buddhism any more than say Christianity (while were at it what about the holy wars?) it just means it takes longer to become enlightened and therefore should be avoided

Answer 4

Human beings are emotional creatures. So they tend to take things to extremes. That is why the Book "contradicts" itself.
It tries to help us find BALANCE in our thinking.
Christ said if someone "SLAPS you, to turn to him the other cheek also". He didn't say to lay down and let someone knock all the teeth out of your mouth because he doesn't like they way you look.
Giving one's life for one's faith is one thing. Stupidity is another.
King Solomon said, "There is a time and a place for everything under the Sun. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time for peace and a time for war."
The trick is knowing when to make one's point. And knowing
when the point has been made.

Answer 5

Th spears arent very sharp, yet they're painful. Shaolin monks bypass via a number of discomfort of their practise. E.g. Pushups on their index finger in hardship-free words and a guy with a education sword (timber sword) beside them to whack them in the journey that they fall.

Answer 6

they were an offshoot/populist

"The Ikko-Ikki were a mass movement Buddhist sect who became powerful during the 15th century in Japan. They appealed to the lowest members of Japanese society and gained power through military campaigns. Ikko means single minded or devoted and the followers of this sect (called monto) were fanatical in their worship of Amida the supreme Buddha who they believed would welcome followers into paradise on their death. Despite this being of the Jodo sect they welcomed all and did not insist on any meditation or any other intellectual path to salvation, which also appealed to the masses. The monks of this sect were also not required to be celibate or become withdrawn from the material world so were able to mix with the peasants more easily. Ikki means league but can also mean mob or riot and it was through rioting mobs that the samurai first became aware of the sect. During the 15th century the head of the sect was Rennyo who died in 1499. He became so popular that rivals burn his house down and forced him to flee. Establishing himself in Kaga province he then got the sect involved in the war between various samurai clans. With their belief in a paradise waiting for them the warrior monks of the Ikko-Ikki were fearless and eager warriors proving very useful to whichever side they were aiding at the time. In battle they would often use mass chanting (nembutsu) to strike fear into their enemies and improve their own morale. In 1488 the Ikko-Ikki rebelled and seized control of Kaga province for themselves, from here they spread out into areas around Kyoto. By 1570 they had two main bases and were a major force in Japanese politics. The first base was the swampy fortress of Nagashima, which the monks defended with a variety of water traps and dykes, which allowed them to flood areas to confuse and trap attackers. The second was the mighty fortified cathedral of Ishiama Honganji, which stood on the site of the famous Osaka castle. Oda Nobunaga finally destroyed this powerful fanatical army in 1580 after a long and an incredibly bloody campaign, which included the Siege of Mount Hiei massacre. "

Answer 7

the best defense is being able to defend oneself with every means possible to prevent an opponent from wanting to attack. there were plenty of warrior monks such as the Knights Templar and various others such as the Shaloin Monks.

Answer 8

Violence is the result of Judgement...which brings condemnation! These are all attacks against God and the result of duality....Forgiveness is the only True religion.

Answer 9

Wow, never heard of them, they are Buddhists who fight and kill? Do you have a link to that site, I'd like to see more about them as I'm stunned they even exist! lol

Answer 10

Templar Knights did, it is not a new concept. They are fighting for what they believe and their faith and principles