Search found 10 matches

by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:59 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

No. But I really think you are out of order for even asking. It would be much better for you to address the issues that are being raised.
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:45 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

It's an interesting thread, and interesting to see Bhikkhu Bodhi himself participating. It seems strange that Bhikkhu Bodhi should consider the obligations of the "liberative" framework to be "morally pernicious." Yet he also says: "And yet the texts of early Buddhism themse...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:15 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

He has called those who would take an absolutist approach to the precepts "radical fundamentalists" and "morally pernicious." Where does he say that? Anyway, I do think that once you boil things down, Bhikkhu Bodhi is in fact saying in certain circumstances killing is the Path (...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

David Snyder said: Yes, sometimes the enemy is not so easily identifiable. And that is why Bhikkhu Bodhi was referring to only those very rare instances when it is clearly known and when it is clearly known that stopping such person will save lives. He used the example of the killer in the act of s...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 5:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Mkoll said: I think part of why this debate has become somewhat heated and has showcased a lot of talking past one another is that we've missed this contribution. Ven. Bodhi is not denying the absolutist stance - he says that "nonharming is inviolable" for one following it. But obviously ...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:27 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

It obfuscates the issue, does it not, to talk about pluralistic governments and nations, because it's still just individuals making decisions, and they will have to live with those decisions. Buddhists (or people willing to look to Buddhist teachings for advice), therefore, would be looking to see w...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:50 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Thanks for the reference to SN 4:20, RetroFuturist. I'm not sure the Buddha was sidestepping, though. What's interesting in it is that the only way the Buddha would even consider ruling to be righteous would be "without killing or causing others to kill." But even then ultimately holding s...
by JackOfHearts
Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:33 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Has anybody noticed that for the first 30 odd years of teaching Bhikkhu Bodhi took an absolute line on the precepts? I think I even found a quote from 2012 where he takes a hard line. So this is not just Bhikkhu Bodhi vs. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, but it seems like a post 2010-or-2012 Bhikkhu Bodhi vs. th...
by JackOfHearts
Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:34 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Maybe someone in this forum is in contact with him. In the meantime I wonder if my logic is sound based on what Bhikkhu Bodhi has already stated. If as you say, he's talking about laypeople only, are we okay with that?
by JackOfHearts
Mon Oct 27, 2014 10:53 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 397
Views: 73188

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

I think Bhikkhu Bodhi's position has a lot of implications which have to be teased out. He has stated that he thinks, under certain circumstances, it is laudable, morally commendable and even obligatory to kill a perceived enemy. I wonder if this position also applies to monks, i.e. is he only advoc...