Thread: The Use of Force

Originally Posted by Taosaur

Yes, another Dalai Lama inspired thread. What can I say, he's a smart man



I came to the same conclusion growing up in violent surroundings, and watching people handicap themselves with anger and violent reactions throughout my life. There are situations where the use of force is understandable and justified (idealists may disagree), but few if any in which it is the wisest or most productive option. Whenever we engage in violence, we forfeit control of the situation and are all but certain to share in the suffering it produces.

The unpredictable nature of violence is especially relevant to war. War is generally undertaken with a desired end result (paradoxically, one of the goals is almost always a reduction in violence), but how can we work toward a fixed goal if our means are a roll of the dice, and the dice are weighted in favor of generating more violence?

Many people feel they make themselves vulnerable by taking the option of force off the table (whether personally or as a community/nation), but as a known pacifist who regularly socializes with bikers, veterans, ex-convicts, alcoholics, and various combinations of the above, I can tell you my experience has been the opposite.

Anyone agree, disagree, or have any stories that demonstrate the value of either violence or nonviolence?

When you respond with violence, you are actually fighting yourself. Thats why you can't resort to violence. You propagate the hate/chaos. It is a self infliction when you give in. The best way to look at it is the butterfly effect. You don't want to perpetuate it, you want to change it.

However, I do believe in self defense. On a biological level, it is survival. On a spiritual level it doesn't matter. Sorry, I'm not going to side with the unknown in spirituality and instead I'm going to go with my biological instincts. In doing so, it is important to have an active pursuit in the disarming of all violence prior to it potentially reaching me or others.

Absolution in self defense.