No to Warfare

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Resorting to arms for settlement of personal or national disputes is also ruled out completely in Buddhism. The Buddha's admonition to the warring men of his own and the Koliyan clan who had fallen out with each other over some strips of land and division of Rohini's waters should settle all doubts if any, do exist in this matter.

The Buddha's sudden appearance between two opposing armies who were readied for a mortal combat, recalls to mind another more important historical parallel. How different was the sequel?

He quietly enquired, "Tell me O Kings, is earth of any intrinsic value?" "Of no value whatever", was the reply. "Is water of any intrinsic value?" "Of no value whatsoever". "And the blood of the kings and men, is that of any intrinsic value?" "Its value is priceless". "Is it reasonable", asked the Buddha. "That, which is priceless, should be staked against that which has no value whatsoever?"

The two warring groups saw the wisdom of the reasoning and thus decided to abandon their dispute and attempt to wage the war against each other.

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