Today is September 10, 2006 and tomorrow will be the 11th and the 5th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the crashing of a jet in Pennsylvania. Since that day, for the past five years, our country and many others have reacted in various ways to those events.
This reminds me of the story of one of the Buddha’s disciples, Ahimsaka, the non-violent one, a monk of profound insight and understanding. The story of Ahimsaka is recounted in a short book titled The Buddha and the Terrorist by Satish Kumar. In one lifetime a vicious killer called Angulimala became transformed into Ahimsaka, a morphing of determined murderer into a devout protector of life.
Angulimala was the name given to this murderer because after he killed men he would take their fingers and string them on a necklace, mala, and wear the bloodied fingers, anguli, around his neck. As the story goes Angulimala is eventually converted to Buddhism and follows the Buddha, transforming his life and becoming famous for non-violence and profound insight and understanding.
The book, however, is about more than this transformation, it is about what society does in reaction to the past deeds of the terrorist Angulimala and the devout disciple of the Buddha Ahimsaka. In the story the King comes in search of Angulimala, not knowing that he had become a disciple of the Buddha. The King inters into a dialogue with the Buddha during which the Buddha tells the King, “Your majesty, violence breeds violence. Revenge and justice are not the same. Someone, somewhere, needs to take the courage to break the cycle of violence. Forgiveness is superior to justice.”
Today as we think about those events 5 years ago and what has happened until now we can find clear evidence of the truth that violence breeds only violence. In the past five years more Americans have been killed as a result of our efforts to punish terrorists than were killed on September 11, 2001. Even more innocent people in other countries have been killed. And still there is no end to terrorism. The violence has only led to more violence.
You might say well that is all well and good about non-violence, especially in the story since Angulimala renounced his violence. You may say that it is different in this case since the terrorists we are dealing with have not renounced their violence. Yet when the Buddha first approached Angulimala he did not do so on the precondition that Angulimala renounce violence. It was as a result of the Buddha’s compassion towards the person Angulimala that this murderer was transformed into Ahimsaka the non-violent one.
So what do we do? As we think about the situation we may be tempted to think that it is bigger than us. We might think that we have no say and are powerless to affect the changes worldwide by our solitary actions locally. When we think that way we fail to consider that terrorism, all terrorism, begins locally. We also fail to realize that ending suffering is the surest way to end terrorism, in whatever form it exists. However, it takes courage just as the Buddha told the king.
Courage is needed because it is easy to become discouraged. If we become discouraged opportunities will pass us by.
In a book titled Harp of Burma by Michio Takeyama, The main character, in a letter to his former Captain during WWII writes, “We Japanese have not cared to make strenuous spiritual efforts. We have not even recognized their value. What we stressed was merely a man’s abilities, the things he could do [… ]. Of perfection as a human being, of humility, stoicism, holiness, the capacity … to help other… all of these virtues we were left ignorant.” The same thing can be said of us today as we listen to the news or read stories of the need to be “vigilant” or “resolved in our commitment” to fight terrorism. There is no teaching of compassion for those who are suffering.
In Pema Chodron’s book When Things Fall Apart she recounts a cartoon she once saw. In the cartoon, “two women are standing behind their locked door peeking out the window at a monster standing on their doorstep. One of the ladies is saying, ‘Calm down Edna. Yes, it is a giant hideous insect, but it may be a giant hideous insect in need of help.’” This is an example of the kind of courage it takes to face suffering and be willing to help alleviate it. It was the same courage and the same thinking that the Buddha had when he came into contact with the murderer Angulimala.
Tuesday, the day after 9/11 is the anniversary of the Tatsunokuchi persecution. This was when Nichiren was lead to the beach to be executed by beheading. With courage he faced this most significant trial for his belief in the Lotus Sutra. Later as he was in exile on Sado Island he wrote several of his most important theoretical treatises.
In a few more days we will be entering the Higan season. This is a time for Buddhists to reflect on the six paramitas. I hope that each of us will take this opportunity to see the appropriateness of the Buddhas teaching for our time. I hope that we all look at the six paramitas and see how we can apply their guidance to solving the problems that exist in our lives and in society so that we can establish a peaceful society where all those who suffer will find comfort and compassion.
