<underfire> on compassion

[Paul Mercken]

I lost the response denying this accusation. Still, there have been  
buddhist acts of violence, for instance in Lakhar, Kashmir. See
http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-sikand130206.htm
However, the title of that article by Yoginder Sikand is: Moslim- 
Buddhist Clashes in Ladakh: The Politics Behind The 'Religious'  
Conflict. Its conclusion is: The underlying causes of the simmering  
conflict in Ladakh are thus largely political and economic, and not  
religious as such, although this is how it has been sought to be  
presented.

Paul Mercken



Op 14-nov-2006, om 3:30 heeft ANNA MOIRA LANZONA het volgende  
geschreven:

> You might want to include Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhists in your  
> litany.
>
> AML
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ana Valdes" <agora158 at gmail.com>
> To: <underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 2:37 PM
> Subject: Re: <underfire> on compassion
>
>
> But every religion seems to be very careful with the concept of to
> whom you should be compassionate. In the name of God 40.000 Arabs,
> Jews and Oriental Christians were slaughtered in the First Crusade, in
> the conquest of Jerusalem.
> In the name of the Reform Luther and Calvin killed anabaptists and
> dissidents.
> In the name of Yahvee Cananites and others were exterminated. In the
> name of Alah the Merciful dies suicide bombers and it's victims.
> The only God I never heard any killing related to is Buddah.
> Ana
>
> On 11/9/06, Allan Siegel <allan at kekbicikli.hu> wrote:
>>
>> Every religion seems to have its own definition of compassion;  
>> what is
>> compassion anyway? Is it a sentiment or an action or both; is it an
>> intervention? A state of mind maybe?
>>
>> If we see innocents being maimed or murdered is it enough 'to feel
>> compassion' for their suffering? Is this sufficient? Or is there  
>> another
>> course of action more worthy of the idea of compassion? Was
>> self-immolation
>> by the Buddhist monk during the Vietnam War an act of compassion?
>>
>> It is such a noble concept. Compassion. Bush talked of a  
>> 'compassionate
>> conservatism.' It seems that in the real world, political leaders and
>> spiritual leaders – who talk endlessly about compassion - whose  
>> task it is
>> to give substance to this concept have gotten side-tracked. Why is  
>> that?
>>
>> In a moral universe in which compassion is so central a theme  
>> there seems
>> to
>> be so many violations even dismissals of its relevence. Thus,  
>> within this
>> amoral environment, contrary to popular rhetoric, peace can be  
>> merely just
>> another pit-stop on an extension of the globalization  
>> superhighway. A a
>> momentary layover on the autostrada that connects one conflict to  
>> another.
>>  Compassion devoid of action is gratuitous. Where do compassion and
>> responsibility intersect?
>>
>> a.s.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
>> 16 October - 10 December 2006
>> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
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>
>
> -- 
> "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth
> with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you
> will always long to return.
> — Leonardo da Vinci
>
> _______________________________________________
> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
> 16 October - 10 December 2006
> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
> all writings copyright individual authors
> no commercial use without permission
> to post a message, send an email to:
> underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org
> to unsubscribe, send an email to:
> underfire-leave at underfire.eyebeam.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Under Fire  http://underfire.eyebeam.org
> 16 October - 10 December 2006
> International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville
> all writings copyright individual authors
> no commercial use without permission
> to post a message, send an email to:
> underfire at underfire.eyebeam.org
> to unsubscribe, send an email to:
> underfire-leave at underfire.eyebeam.org
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