Buddhist Perspectives On Terrorism In The Buddha's Lifetime

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Buddhist Perspectives on Terrorism CHAPTER IV: BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVES ON TERRORISM PART A: THE BACKGROUND IV.1. Terrorism in the Buddha?s Lifetime IV.1.1. The Story of Angulimala The author would like to begin this chapter with a story in the Buddha?s lifetime, well-known to Buddhists, that illustrates some of the attitude of the Buddha to a terrorist. During the time of the Buddha, there was a brilliant student from a wealthy family called Ahimsaka. Ahimsaka Kumara was born in the family of Brahmin, the chaplain of King Kosala and was known in his young age as the Son of Mantani. The other students were jealous of him and eventually managed to turn his teacher (the teacher was not a follower of the Buddha) against him. As a result, in order to get rid of him, his teacher made the outrageous demand that to receive the high teaching that he desired, Ahimsaka must first kill one thousand people. Amazingly, Ahimsaka did not at this point give up, but he continued to trust his teacher, trusting that this shocking demand must somehow be for overall good. So he set out to complete his task. Ahimsaka became a murderer, lurking in a forest and killing people. The lad killed many men to cut the fingers which he made a garland hanging around his neck. Hence he …show more content…

In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the first gift, the first great gift ? original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning ? that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives and