Dalai lama's letter to UK Buddhist Military members

I am honoured to have been invited to address members of the Buddhist community serving in the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force on the occasion of your annual conference.I have always admired those who are prepared to act in the defence of others for their courage and determination.

In fact, it may surprise you to know that I think that monks and soldiers, sailors and airman have more in common than at first meet the eye. Strict discipline is important to us all, we all wear uniform and we rely on the companionship and support of our comrades.Although the public may think that physical strength is what is important, I believe that what makes a good soldier, sailor or airman, just as what makes a good monk is inner strength. And inner strength depends on having a firm positive motivation. The difference lies in whether ultimately you want to ensure others well being or whether you want to wish them harm.Naturally, there are some times when we need to take what on the surface appears to be harsh or tough action, but if our motivation is good is actually non-violent in nature. On the other hand if we use sweet words and gestures to deceive, exploit and take advantage of others, our conduct may appear agreeable, while we are actually engages in quite unacceptable violence.

The ultimate purpose of Buddhism is to serve and benefit humanity; therefore I believe that what is important for Buddhists is the contribution we can make to human society according to our own ideas and values. The key to overcome suffering and ensuring happiness is inner peace. If we have that we can face difficulties with calmness and reason, while our inner happiness remains undisturbed. The teachings of love, kindness and tolerance, the conduct of non-violence as I have explained above, and specially the Buddhist theory that all things are relative are a source of that inner peace.It is my prayer that all of you may be able to do your duty and fulfil your mission in due course when that is done to return to your homes and families.

Dalai Lama16 May, 2009.

Small Efforts

SMALL incremental efforts can lead to great victory in life. The same principle applies to our struggle for kosen-rufu. One-to-one dialogue sets the giant wheel of history in motion
.THOSE who spread the Law are most noble. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by such things as social standing or wealth. We must not be defeated by the eight winds of life’s changing fortunes. Those who succumb to them are not disciples of Nichiren Daishonin.

NICHIREN DAISHONIN wrote: “The popular proverb says that ‘one is the mother of ten thousand’.” (MW5, p112) One truly capable person who stands up resolutely can lead ten thousand people to happiness. This one determined person is the basis for all victory. It is important to find such “individuals” and foster them, while at the same time, endeavouring to become such an “individual” oneself.

JUST as a well-nourished tree grows steadily, the eyes of a person who lives in harmony with the True Law will become those of the Buddha and the Law. To put it another way, the perspective that derives from faith is identical to observations made by the Buddha himself. Therefore, it is important to view everything from the standpoint of faith. Victory will be yours if you have the fundamental attitude in your daily life.

WHETHER or not you have courage will greatly influence your happiness. If you have courage, you can become a capable person within society. You can also overcome your own weakness, and direct your life from a course of negativity and suffering towards one of happiness and virtue.

THE STORY OF OHASHI NO TARO

The shogun said: “From times past I have heard various reports regarding the power of the Lotus Sutra, and on two instances I myself have received proof of that power. The first was when my father was beheaded by the grand minister of state and lay priest.13 My misery was beyond expression. I did not know what god or Buddha to appeal to, but the nun Myoho14 of Mount Izu taught me to read the Lotus Sutra. When I had read it a thousand times, the priest Mongaku15 of Takao brought me the head of my late father and showed it to me. After that I was able not only to revenge myself on my father’s enemies, but to become the military commander of all the warriors in Japan. All of this was due solely to the power of the Lotus Sutra.

Gosho page 126

A SAGE AND AN UNENLIGHTENED MAN (I)

“We may compare these two kinds of practice to the two ways of the civil and the military used in governing a nation. There is a time when military measures should take precedence, and a time when civil measures ought to be emphasized. When the world is at peace and calm prevails within the country, then civil measures should take precedence. But when the barbarian tribes to the east, south, west, and north, fired by wild ambitions, rise up like hornets, then military measures should come first.
“Though one may understand the importance of both civil and military arts, if one does not understand the time, donning armor and taking up weapons when all countries are calm and peaceful and there is no trouble anywhere throughout the world, then one’s actions will be wrong. On the other hand, one who lays aside one’s weapons on the battlefield when enemies are marching against one’s ruler and instead takes up a writing brush and inkstone is likewise failing to act in accordance with the time.

Nichiren's gosho

In your case, you are a member of a warrior family, an evil man who day and night is involved in the business of killing. Since you have not left your household [to become a priest], but have remained a warrior to the present, by what means can you escape the three evil paths? Should you not think about this very carefully?

The heart of the Lotus Sutra is the revelation that one may attain supreme enlightenment in one’s present form without altering one’s status as an ordinary person. This means that without casting aside one’s karmic impediments one can still attain the Buddha way. Thus T’ien-t’ai said, “The other sutras only predict Buddhahood . . . for the good, but not for the evil; . . . This [Lotus] sutra predicts Buddhahood for all.”22 And Miao-lo said, “The meaning of the perfect teaching lies solely in the fact that those who oppose can be saved as well as those who follow.