World Peace?!

[Jundo]

Re: World Peace?!

Hmmm. Perhaps Hyon Gak Sunim's little talk is only halfway there.

In this world of Samsara, "world peace" ... the cessation of all distress and any conflict ... is just not possible so long as there are two things or people to bump into each other, making friction, disagreement, competition, war. So long as there are people in this world, there will always be different people ... with differing needs and viewpoints. As Master Seung Sahn points out, "World peace is not possible" in this complex world.

Yet, "world peace" is possible when we look inside (or better said, look through "inside or outside"), experiencing no this and that to fight over, no you and me to fight. Then, there is the world of One Piece ... a Peace so encompassing that it holds both peace and war, stillness and disturbance, all the broken pieces. Thus Master Seung Sahn points out that peace "is not necessary."

All At Once As One.

Hyon Gak Sunim is right, I feel, when he says that peace cannot be based on a philosophy, religion or idea ... so long as you and I fight about whose idea is right and wrong, perhaps willing to kill each other to prove it.

But Hyon Gak Sunim is very wrong when he say that peace cannot be based on a philosophy, religion or idea ... provided, however, that the shared idea is that we can all live together ... Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Whatever ... agreeing to disagree, allowing each other space, not fighting over right and wrong. I also uphold the idea that, sometime in the near future (if the human species is to survive) we will live in a world where the "this and that" of food, shelter, education, healthcare and the like are shared sufficiently ... as in a community of monks ... such that there will be no need to fight for acquiring basic "this and that". Oh, there will still be frictions, disagreements, disputes (yes, as found even in a community of monks!) ... but so long as we do not fight and kill each other and resolve the conflicts in peace, there can be "world peace."

"World peace" ... stopping all wars, stopping hunger, poverty and disease ... may never be possible in this complex world (though I think it someday possible). Thus we push ahead for the idea of "World Peace".

Thus, I must agree to agree/disagree with Hyon Gak Sunim.

Gassho, J

PS - I fully agree that anarchy ... as well meaning as some of the folks involved may be ... is never the way. Violence and tearing down is most likely to lead to more violence.

PPS - Gee, I need to get a cameraman/director with such media values for the sit-a-longs! :wink:

[SoR]

Re: World Peace?!

I've posted this a few places myself, but you beat me to it here!

For many years I was one of these anarchists Sunim is referring to. I was convinced that it would change the world. I was very attached to my ideas and got into many arguments about it.

[Rich]

Re: World Peace?!

Yea. Even world peace is just for a moment. Interesting that even in buddhas land and time with a large % of monks and lay buddhists there was conflict and war. Heck even some of the kings were buddhists. Maybe if every person found world peace in themselves the world would be at peace. But like the guy said everyone has different idea about what to believe to have peace so real peace must not depend on thinking.

[Ekai]

Re: World Peace?!

This was interesting. World peace always starts with ourselves.

Gassho,
Ekai/Jodi

[Seiryu]

interesting talk by Hyon Gak Sunim

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