Washington Post Article on "Buddhist Assassin"

[Dosho]

Hi all,

Going to have to process this one:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/shooters-interest-in-buddhism-prompts-debate-about-stereotype-of-peaceful-faith/2013/09/18/f0ecd938-1fcf-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html?tid=btm_rex_3

Gassho,
Dosho

[Daitetsu]

Thanks for this link, Dosho.

Actually, I kind of expected such an article...
Thing is, when such tragedies occur, media and politicians quickly look for a culprit, so people can say "aha, that's why" and move on with their life forgetting about it.
So you just have to look whether the attacker
a) listened to certain music styles like Heavy Metal, etc. and/or
b) played video games and/or
c) had another religion than the one which is common in that country.

Chances are big one of this is true, et voilà, that must have been the cause, riddle solved.
You don't even have to say it really was the cause, just implying the possibility suffices.

Gassho,

Timo

[lordbd]

I feel like this article has Buddhism as basically a red herring and/or straw man. People who describe themselves as Buddhists have killed before, this isn't the first time. Buddhism isn't a cure for severe mental illness any more than any other religion is. This article stems from the western tendency to see eastern practices as mystical and exotic.

[Taikyo]

I too expected an article. As it stands it seems quite innocuous compared to what the tabloids in the UK would have made of it - but I guess it is what some people will make of it. I wish Metta to all those affected by this incident.

Gassho
David

[Yugen]

The comments following the article pretty much "call out" the WP and its reporting on this issue.

The article does contain a few interesting points that are worth thinking about:

1) that in the West, Buddhism is thought of as nonviolent, or pacifist. When an individual who has followed Buddhism or practices Zen engages in violence, is the issue with the religion or the actions of the individual? An oversimplified question, but one that looms large in this piece and applies to all the world's faith traditions, not just Buddhism.

2) Buddhism is referred to in the article as the "upper middle way" for many Americans - the article and the subject interviewed claims that Buddhism (and Zen) is often practiced by more affluent and educated individuals in the US - a point worth thinking about.... there are Buddhist practice groups in some prisons and inner city communities in the US, but these are far outnumbered by Christian communities and programs.....

3) the connection between suffering and practice - there are individuals who come to a spiritual/meditative/religious practice to find relief from emotional distress - in the case of depression and other afflictions meditation may be helpful, but in itself is not always effective. Proper medical attention (physician's care, counseling, medication, etc.) is a tool to be considered/used in conjunction with a meditation practice. This point is not sufficiently explored in the article.

Just my initial reaction to some of the points made-

Deep bows
Yugen

[Jundo]

A very troubled fellow who happened to be a Buddhist ... and became a Buddhist because he was troubled. Many people turn to religions of all kinds when troubled.

Are all Christians or Muslims killers because some are?

The real culprit is the anger and division within us.

The Precepts guide us not to take life, to avoid violence. May all victims of violence (he among them) find peace.

Gassho, J

PS - I do not say so easily about a newspaper of such high standards as the Post, but statements in that article border on religious prejudice and ignorant stereotyping. What dark side of Buddhism does it purport to be exposing?

[sittingzen]

This article is completely flawed from the beginning. To attempt and form a causal link between "unstable" man and "Buddhism" with context as, "he practiced Buddhism for x amount of time" is journalism at it's worst.

This tragic shooting happened a few blocks away from me. All true Paths advocate love, nonviolence, generosity, truth, and so forth. We all acknowledge that religions have been used as the pretext for genocides and atrocities. This, is the perversion of religious practices and not indicative of what they actually represent. Shame on the Post.

[Jundo]

I feel this fellow's attitude of foregiveness is a lesson for us ...

http://wnow.worldnow.com/story/23355026/buddhist-monk-severly-beaten-in-spencer-teen-suspects-sought

PS - the TMZ commercial I m getting before the video is also a lesson in something ... though not sure quite what.

[Daitetsu]

I feel this fellow's attitude of foregiveness is a lesson for us ...

http://wnow.worldnow.com/story/23355...uspects-sought

"I have to forgive. I don't want to sit in charcoal, hot charcoal, or pour acid in my heart".



Thank you, Jundo!

Gassho,

Timo

[Mp]

One of the things I also find tragic about this, is the reporting. Sadly, the adding of details about this event that do not apply - does it matter that he was Buddhist? No! His mental disorder drove him to do the act, not the fact he was a Buddhist. I find that some news organizations use these types of tactics to generate ratings and don't give any thought to the recourse of these statements.

Sorry for the rant, just my two cents.

Gassho
Shingen

[Emmet]

I find this article from the Buddhist Peace Fellowship more thoughtful:

Our Permanent State of Violence: Why Aaron Alexis Could End Up Being A Great Buddhist Teacher

"...my sympathies and prayers to all those who knew the 13 victims, including Alexis. Losing your loved ones in such a violent, sudden manner is awfully difficult to swallow, no matter what your beliefs about life and death are. I grieve for the 12 people who woke up Monday morning and went about their days, only to find themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Every bullet that ripped through their bodies tears through all of us as well. I grieve for the gunman who so lost his way in this life, and left it in such a violent, horrific fashion. I grieve for the families, friends, and loved ones who are now in shock, in mourning, in a place they probably never expected they would be. I grieve for our nation as well, which cannot seem to break through the oppressive haze of its collective shadows, and continues to spawn nightmare after nightmare across the planet."

[Heishu]

Here is an article I came upon concerning Aaron Alexis stating "he was a regular meditator" and the effects of meditation on his actions. http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/1...of-meditation/

Here is a portion from the article:

"How does someone who engages in meditation, which is supposed to focus the mind, and is often associated with efforts to diffuse violence, rather than instigate it, perform the acts that Alexis is accused of executing? Alexis had a record of violent crime and, his father told the Wall Street Journal that his son had anger issues related to post-traumatic stress from participating in rescue efforts during the 9/11 attacks. A former boss, who met Alexis at a Buddhist temple in the Fort Worth, Tex. area, said Alexis was also a heavy drinker who came to chanting and meditation sessions regularly."

Lots to think about but the big issue is not this or that, was he Buddhist, was he a meditator. The big issue was his mental health and how that affected the outcome of this tragic event.

Gassho,
Heishu

[Shonin]

I saw a post on FB ( from a fellow Buddhist) about the fact it was brought up he was Buddhist. I had mentioned it as a reminder that we're all human. Just because our faith is in Buddhism doesn't mean we can't "lose our sh*t and flip the "f" out."
I enjoyed this article and it does give one a lot to think about.
I don't see why it was brought up in the first place. If he had been a regular church goer would it have made it int he news?
I haven't seen anything to suggest Buddhism was "the cause" in anything I've read.
And this to me was a more responsible and factual representation. This addresses that he fel out of regular practice, suffered from ptsd, and was an alcoholic.
Perhaps he was a Buddhist because he saw these things in himself and then didn't find results to his liking.
Some of his issues, such as the anger issues and depression I can side with. Frankly, sitting helps, but at the end of the day I see a doc and take my " be nice to others" meds.(no i'm not violent I just have a mouth on me when I get fired up).
Dave _/\_

[Daisho]

Well just as easily, the article could have been written slanted in favor of Buddhism. If Mr. Alexis had kept up his meditation practice and become closer to the sanga, rather than have let it "fade away" for over 2 years, he might have avoided the emotional explosion that led to this tragedy. This article is just one more example of the "new journalism," based on opinion, speculation, lack of research and molding of facts to fit the writer's perspective, not hard facts, investigation and balanced reporting. Too bad the Washington Post is one more that's bit the dust.

Much metta to all involved in this disastrous event.

[Taikyo]

Koun Franz has just posted an article that touches on this tragedy in it he says:

When we hear of someone committing an unthinkable act of violence, as Buddhists, our reaction should be to make it thinkable. We have to go there, to dig deep within ourselves, to crawl around and search in the dark until we find where, in our own minds, we are capable of treating another life so lightly. We must gaze, unblinking, at our capacity for treating others as disposable objects, or as mere characters in a story of our own creation. Let the media pundits and psychologists try to figure out why Aaron Alexis did what he did–why is not the right question. The question for us is how—not just, “How could he do it?” but “How could I do it?” Because you can. We can. And because soon, someone else, somewhere, will.

The full article can be read here:http://nyoho.com/2013/09/18/what-are...hich-youll-go/

Gassho

David