When Buddhists Kill Each Other: A Look Beyond the Headlines

When Buddhists Kill Each Other: A Look Beyond the Headlines

The news cycles, even in late July 2025, remain stubbornly consistent: conflict, tension, and the perplexing reality of human beings at odds. From the recent, deadly border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia to the chilling escalation and subsequent uneasy ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the world feels perpetually on edge. Yet, beneath the geopolitical maneuvering and territorial disputes, a deeper, more philosophical question often surfaces: why, despite shared humanity and sometimes even shared faith, do we continue to fight?

The Buddhist Paradox: When Peace Preachers Clash

The clashes between Thailand and Cambodia earlier this month were particularly jarring for many observers. Here are two nations, both overwhelmingly adherents of **Theravada Buddhism**, a faith founded on principles of non-violence, compassion (karuṇā), and loving-kindness (mettā). Yet, they engaged in the deadliest border conflict in over a decade, sending civilians fleeing and drawing international condemnation.

On the surface, it seems utterly illogical. How can those who follow the path of peace wield weapons against each other over a few square miles of contested land, often surrounding ancient temples?

India, Pakistan, and the Persistence of Regional Flashpoints

The May 2025 escalation between India and Pakistan served as a stark reminder that even as nations grow in power and global influence, deeply rooted historical disputes remain highly volatile. Despite India's commitment to "strategic autonomy" – navigating global power blocs independently – the conflict with Pakistan, especially over Kashmir, constantly pulls it into a regional gravity well of instability.

This highlights that for nations, achieving "autonomy" isn't just about global positioning; it's also about managing entrenched regional challenges. The brief, intense exchange of fire, and the unprecedented temporary suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, underscored how quickly tensions can spiral and how non-military tools can be weaponized.

Beyond the Physical: A Question of Spiritual Foundation

This brings us to a more profound discussion. Perhaps the very reason conflicts persist, even among those professing peace, stems from a deeper spiritual void – specifically, a lack of **devotion to God** and the rejection of divine guidance of The Holy Spirit leading to a subtle form of "pride" in self-reliance.

* **Humanity's Core Problem:** Conflict, selfishness, and a lack of perfect love are symptoms of a deeper human condition (often termed "sin") that separates humanity from God.

* **The Divine Guide:** Without the direct intervention and guidance of The Holy Spirit, human beings, no matter how well-intentioned or ethically disciplined, will ultimately fall short of true transformation and lasting peace.

* **The Necessity of Devotion:** Unconditional love and devotion to God, as exemplified in Christ's teachings, are seen as the wellspring of all true virtue and the path to ultimate reconciliation and eternal life (Heaven).

* **The "Dead End" Without It:** Any spiritual path, however noble its ethics or profound its philosophical insights, are a "dead end" if it does not ultimately lead to a relationship with God and the redemptive work of Christ. The emphasis on "self-reliance" in non-theistic paths, therefore, could be interpreted as a form of spiritual pride that, despite its best intentions, fails to address the root issue.

This contrasts sharply with Buddhism, which is largely non-theistic and emphasizes individual effort, wisdom, and the cultivation of compassion (which flows from understanding, not necessarily devotion to a deity) as the path to liberation (Nirvana). Buddhism's core aim is to extinguish craving and aversion, thereby ending suffering, rather than achieving communion with God and Heaven.

Buddha Died Eating Contaminated Pork and Mushrooms 

Isn't that the ultimate irony? His rejection of the law and self reliant teaching caused his destruction.  Eating whatever is given to you is not a mark of enlightenment, but rather a dangerous form of negligence or ignorance. We should all be more careful eating everything we are offered. 

Christ is The King

Not one Yod! 

מי כאל