On the question of killing: a talk with the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi

Few podcast episodes that we’ve produced this year have had the impact as Episode #61, my interview with the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi. And few questions were as difficult as the following.

To set the scene, many of the questions I ask in the interview were sent in by listeners, many of them Burmese Buddhists currently in Myanmar. So these questions, as hard and painful as they are, are not abstract, theoretical ones, they concern real-life challenges. They were not intended to trap the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi or put him on the spot, but to desperately seek spiritual answers that in many cases their own monkhood is unfortunately not providing.

So in this context, and with this backdrop, that the following question was asked. Not only have listeners been reflecting on the answer, but so has Bhikkhu Bodhi himself. And so important does he find this question, that we have arranged to schedule a second, follow-up interview during which he can clarify the views expressed during this talk. So, if you have any specific questions you might like to ask after hearing the interview, please contact us with your suggestion.

Following is the question, and listen to the episode to hear the full answer.

“Not surprisingly, we received a wide number of questions inquiring about the role of harm at this moment, where many believe they are approaching a ‘kill or be killed’ scenario. Looking at this question isn’t quite as black and white as one might think at first glance, because short of killing, there are a wide range of methods from self-defense to diversionary techniques to threats to sabotage to provoking mild injuries; before one gets to strict non-violence of any kind. I am now in touch with many very dedicated practitioners in Myanmar who are having to contemplate things they never in a million years would have expected to; people who are careful never even to harm a mosquito. So before I ask more specific questions, what generally would you say as guidance to a Buddhist who is now facing these terrible circumstances?”