buddhist distribution and violence

[drhess]

Are there any buddhist terrorist or rebellion sects, or clashes between cultures or nationalities and others where buddhist identification is a major part of the cleavage between battling goups, as there are with hindu/muslim, christian/muslim, jew/muslim, catholic/protestant, etc. ?

Thanks.

[Kimstu]

The sectarian violence in Sri Lanka involves the 70% Buddhist majority, separatists and others in the Hindu minority (most notably the Tamil Tigers militants), and the smaller Muslim minority. Buddhist identification is explicitly invoked in the conflict by some members of the majority:

While most of the Sangha [Buddhist leadership] have been content to influence party politics from the sidelines, a number of monks have become more engaged politically, associating themselves openly with Marxist and Sinhala nationalist activism. In the 1980s, and particularly after the signing of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, many became increasingly militant in rejecting proposals for federalism or devolution. The Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front — JVP) was very successful at this time in recruiting bhikkus [Buddhist monks] in support of its armed anti-accord insurrection.

The JVP monks and the bhikkus who joined the army after the 1995 breakdown of peace talks caused deep confusion among those who perceive Buddhism as a philosophy of peace and non-violence. To committed Sinhala Buddhist ideologues, however, violence can be justified to counter the threat posed by the Indo-Lanka Accord to the unity of land, race and religion in Sri Lanka. Of course, many Sri Lankan Buddhists follow Lord Buddha’s teaching of Vassetta Suthra, which rejects all divisions between human beings. These individuals cannot sanction support of or participation in violence. Even they, however, often harbour deep anxieties about perceived threats to their religion which can be and have been manipulated politically.

The argument that a unitary state with one religion and one language is required to honour the sacred trust of Lord Buddha, has clear ramifications for the self-determination aspirations of Tamils and other minorities living in Sri Lanka. A corollary of this argument — that federalism constitutes a threat to Buddhism — is voiced by some bhikkus and by ordinary Sri Lankan Buddhists too. According to some Sinhala factions, all minority ethnicities should respect the dominance of Sinhala Buddhist culture in Sri Lanka and assimilate into it.

[Crandolph]

I believe this piece addresses that question directly.

There have also been violent attacks on democracy protestors by troops of the Buddhist/Hindu (difficult in that area of the world to extricate one from the other) kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan in the early 90s. Very much Tiananmen Square-like on a smaller scale. In fact IIRC both incidents were in the repective Durban Sqaures of the capital cities.

[drhess]

@Crandolph

I believe this piece addresses that question directly.

Interesting, although it deals more with the hierarchy of an order with a state-religion establishment. He also seems to downplay the abuses since Chinese control a bit.

[Tamerlane]

Burma is another state where anti-Christian and anti-Muslim violence and bias has been reported. However that should be taken in the context of a brutal junta that also seeks to control Buddhist institutions, even as it represses non-Buddhist minorities.

In Japan there is Aum Shinrkyo ( they of the subway gas attacks ) which is usually classified as Buddhist, though its eclectic theology allows for some dispute.

• Tamerlane