A Violent Action without Anger

“There are situations in which one can make the choice to adopt an action that we would call violent, but it's being performed to the greatest extent possible without a mind of hatred without a mind of anger.”

So says the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, when asked about the current actions that some resistance and community defense teams are now planning as the Tatmadaw continues its violent onslaught on the Burmese people.

The interview has become the most-listened to episode in the short history of Insight Myanmar Podcast. Considered such essential listening that a full translation was done into Burmese (https://upayadhamma.wordpress.com/tag/bhikkhu-bodhi/), and several Burmese monasteries across Asia and the US have reported listening in groups to talk about the points that this highly esteemed and revered monk discusses.

Bhikkhu Bodhi's sensitive and flexible approach enables the Buddha’s teachings to be applied to a many-shades-of-grey reality, and acknowledges that in real life messiness, there may be no good, clean ethical options. Not only are black-and-white, theoretical absolutes not appropriate for people facing such difficult circumstances, they can even have the effect of turning people away from the teachings, bring unrealistic and rarified standards beyond most people’s reach in challenging life situations.

This particular quote especially stands out in illustrating Bhikkhu Bodhi's delicate consideration of real-life circumstances concerning the current situation in Myanmar, that many other monks and meditation teachers have chosen to avoid with a ten-foot pole.