Buddhist Monks and Just War

Abstract

In principle, early Buddhism did not support just war and also held that the use of violence against human beings was considered evil and sinful. Buddhist monks are prohibited by the Vinaya to witness any warfare practices, to stay in, or to walk around in the army. The Lord Buddha himself not only delivered the teachings on loving-kindness, compassion, non-violence, and no-killing but also participated in mediation to end war. In the Mahāvaṃsa of Lanka, there are some statements that accept just war, that is, in case of the protection of the nation, religion, and citizens. This would be considered as a minor sin, since the invaders are immoral. And also in Mahayana Buddhism, there are some statements in two Mahayana sutras, covering Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra and Upāyakauśalya Sūtra, that can be interpreted as justifying a just war. According to both sūtras, Buddhists can use violence or even just war, if necessary, to protect the Dhamma and the public from the acts of the wicked. However, throughout the history of both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism in different countries, especially when their nations were invaded by the enemy, there were some groups of Buddhist monks involved in war, both directly and indirectly. Their involvement can be considered as contrary to the Buddha’s teachings. However, it is possible that those monks were facing an ethical dilemma between following the Disciplines and the Doctrines of strictly and protecting the nation, religion, and citizens from the enemy.