Dear All,
As some of you may know, this week, a certain American president got into a ruckus with a certain Pope about something called the "Just War" Doctrine of Catholicism.
I am certainly not a Catholic theologian, so cannot comment on their beliefs. However, the question arises whether, in Buddhism, a war is ever "just," and what is an "unjust" war.
Well, I am also not the final word on Buddhist and Zen ethics either! So, other Buddhist voices might disagree with what I will say (Some might argue that no war is ever justified in Buddhism: LINK). Also, in both Christian and Buddhist nations, social and political structures have changed through the centuries, such that what might have been acceptable and "just" in 1226 or 1626 would not be seen as "just" and acceptable in 2026. Buddha, Dogen and countless other ancestors lived in times of kings and emperors, shogun and lords, swords and spears when war and feudal values were common, in times very different from our current world of atomic missiles and drones, submarines and bombers. Certainly, Catholic values have changed too with time, since the days of the "Crusades" and European colonies.
However, what I am reading about the Catholic "Just War" doctrine, as it exists today, seems to make sense, and be common sense compatible with Buddhist teachings on such matters. It is laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and includes among other provisions ...
Now, we may differ a bit in wording, notions of "sin," "commandment," and such, but the basic tenets described there seem universal to my eye. Bottom line, the war must be unavoidable, all other means of peace shown "impractical or ineffective," the violence to be done must "not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated." The lives of children and other innocent non-combatants must be protected to the degree possible.
Perhaps the Buddhist might add the notion of Karma, that the soldier must still bear the Karma of taking life even if necessary, unavoidable, though the intent in taking life is key here (whether pillage and conquest or the prevention of conquest and greater harm). Also vital is the avoidance of hate and a wish for revenge in the heart of the soldier. The role of the soldier in Buddhism is a complicated topic, beyond a simple answer (an excellent scholarly review is here: THE PARADOX OF THE BUDDHIST SOLDIER - LINK).
In fact, I do not think that there is ever really some "just war," although sometimes, if truly in self-defense, unavoidable, we might call it a necessary evil.
All that being said, I do not see that the current war in Iran, principally led by the United States and Israel, nor Israel's violence in Lebanon and Gaza with death and other harms caused to thousands of children and other civilians, can be termed "Just War" by any measure. These actions violate our Precepts on Avoiding Killing and Hate, they break our Vow to aid suffering beings.
Thus, as one Buddhist priest (one both American and of Jewish family too) I choose to speak out against these wars as unjust. This is wrong. The warmongers are wrong.
May all parties involved quickly end this stupidity, this madness, and may peace be quickly restored. May all peoples and nations find a way to live together in peace, in mutual sharing and friendship.
How do you feel?
Gassho, Jundo
stlah
As some of you may know, this week, a certain American president got into a ruckus with a certain Pope about something called the "Just War" Doctrine of Catholicism.
I am certainly not a Catholic theologian, so cannot comment on their beliefs. However, the question arises whether, in Buddhism, a war is ever "just," and what is an "unjust" war.
Well, I am also not the final word on Buddhist and Zen ethics either! So, other Buddhist voices might disagree with what I will say (Some might argue that no war is ever justified in Buddhism: LINK). Also, in both Christian and Buddhist nations, social and political structures have changed through the centuries, such that what might have been acceptable and "just" in 1226 or 1626 would not be seen as "just" and acceptable in 2026. Buddha, Dogen and countless other ancestors lived in times of kings and emperors, shogun and lords, swords and spears when war and feudal values were common, in times very different from our current world of atomic missiles and drones, submarines and bombers. Certainly, Catholic values have changed too with time, since the days of the "Crusades" and European colonies.
However, what I am reading about the Catholic "Just War" doctrine, as it exists today, seems to make sense, and be common sense compatible with Buddhist teachings on such matters. It is laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and includes among other provisions ...
2304 Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is "the tranquillity of order." Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity.
...
2308 All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed."
2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. the gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
- the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
- all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
- there must be serious prospects of success;
- the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" doctrine.
~~~
2313 Non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely.
Actions deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who carry them out. Thus the extermination of a people, nation, or ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. One is morally bound to resist orders that command genocide.
2314 "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation." A danger of modern warfare is that it provides the opportunity to those who possess modern scientific weapons especially atomic, biological, or chemical weapons - to commit such crimes.
~~~
2317 Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P81.HTM
...
2308 All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed."
2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. the gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
- the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
- all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
- there must be serious prospects of success;
- the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" doctrine.
~~~
2313 Non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely.
Actions deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who carry them out. Thus the extermination of a people, nation, or ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. One is morally bound to resist orders that command genocide.
2314 "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation." A danger of modern warfare is that it provides the opportunity to those who possess modern scientific weapons especially atomic, biological, or chemical weapons - to commit such crimes.
~~~
2317 Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P81.HTM
Perhaps the Buddhist might add the notion of Karma, that the soldier must still bear the Karma of taking life even if necessary, unavoidable, though the intent in taking life is key here (whether pillage and conquest or the prevention of conquest and greater harm). Also vital is the avoidance of hate and a wish for revenge in the heart of the soldier. The role of the soldier in Buddhism is a complicated topic, beyond a simple answer (an excellent scholarly review is here: THE PARADOX OF THE BUDDHIST SOLDIER - LINK).
In fact, I do not think that there is ever really some "just war," although sometimes, if truly in self-defense, unavoidable, we might call it a necessary evil.
All that being said, I do not see that the current war in Iran, principally led by the United States and Israel, nor Israel's violence in Lebanon and Gaza with death and other harms caused to thousands of children and other civilians, can be termed "Just War" by any measure. These actions violate our Precepts on Avoiding Killing and Hate, they break our Vow to aid suffering beings.
Thus, as one Buddhist priest (one both American and of Jewish family too) I choose to speak out against these wars as unjust. This is wrong. The warmongers are wrong.
May all parties involved quickly end this stupidity, this madness, and may peace be quickly restored. May all peoples and nations find a way to live together in peace, in mutual sharing and friendship.
How do you feel?
Gassho, Jundo
stlah
It has a lot of wisdom, and points to the importance of practice to me.
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