(04-14-2012, 01:14 PM)Ankh Wrote: I find this monk story really cool. I enjoy reading stories like this or that about Jesus when those who were about to kill him came, and Jesus told his followers to put down their weapons when they wanted to defend him.
And yet, at the same time I wonder, what if this monk or Jesus had wife and children? Would the monk and Jesus be equally non attached to what was happening? Would Jesus let those men crucify his children and his wife and still not defend them? Would he let his family be hanging on the crosses for days and not do anything?
That is when it gets complicated to me. To walk the path of a monk is one thing. To walk it with a family is more complicated I guess.
Really good point Ankh, I've pondered on this topic much myself. I am fairly certain he did have a family and a wife and I find that martyrs are only as good as what they stand for. Though his message was Love, to me, allowing oneself to be hung up on a cross is very far from Love. Because of that error, he was then used as a pawn to promote that which he created to the very benefit of those who he pushed against.
Dying in Defending your family however, to me, is Love. Standing up for what one believes is unjust, to promote change is Love, but one need not necessarily die as a sacrifice, only be willing.
Lulu
This does bring to mind why STO must be properly understood and applied. Those who think BEING Loving IS LOVE are are yet again positioning themselves to become enslaved and/or martyred at best. There is a big difference between Being Loving and what is LOVE.