Many great Buddhist masters have
prophesied that centuries from now, when the forces of aggression
amass on earth and no reason can turn them back, the kingdom
of Shambhala will open its gates and its enlightened warriors
will come forth into battle. Whoever they encounter will be
given a choice--turn away from non virtue to virtue or, by
direct, wrathful intervention, be liberated into a pure land
beyond suffering.
A Buddhist story tells of a ferry captain whose boat was carrying
500 bodhisattvas in the guise of merchants. A robber on board
planned to kill everyone and pirate the ship's cargo.
The captain, a bodhisattva himself, saw the man's murderous
intention and realized this crime would result in eons of
torment for the murderer. In his compassion, the captain was
willing to take hellish torment upon himself by killing the
man to prevent karmic suffering that would be infinity greater
than the suffering of the murdered victims. The captain's
compassion was impartial; his motivation was utterly selfless.
Now, as I write this, the Middle East is inflamed with war.
Watching the television news, I pray that this war will prevent
greater wars, greater suffering, and that those opposed to
war develop the skills to bring about authentic peace. We
cannot fully discern the motivation of any participants involved
in the conflict, but it is
unlikely that many have the ability to bring about ultimate
liberation for friends and enemies alike, or that they will
be able to sustain the bodhisattva's impartial compassion
as they engage in conflict.
What we can know is our own minds. We can adhere to Buddhist
ideals in our activities, whether we are combatants, protestors,
decision- makers or concerned witnesses. We can pray that
whatever virtue there is in the situation prevails, that genuine
peace be established. The Buddha has taught that throughout
countless lifetimes all beings have been our parents and have
shown us great kindness. Now they have fallen under the sway
of the mind's poisons of desire, anger, ignorance, and they
suffer terribly. Could we exclude any from our compassion
any more than the sun could exclude any from the warmth and
radiance of its rays.As we aspire to peace, now and in the
future cycles of our existence, we cannot deny the possibility
that each of us may be confronted with the need for wrathful
intervention in order to prevent greater harm. May the spiritual
mining we undertake now allow us to enter such situations
free from the delusions of the mind's poisons. May we act
with spontaneous compassion to bring ultimate liberation to
all alike, both victims and aggressors.
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