There is, in Sri Lanka http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/468rruhe.asp Here, for example, are excerpts of songs, published by the government, of the Buddhist monk Elle Gunavamsa: The sword is pulled from the [scabbard], it is Not put back unless smeared with blood. I turned by blood to milk to make you grow Not for myself but for the country My brave, brilliant soldier son Leaving [home] to defend the motherland That act of merit is enough To reach Nirvāna in a future birth.
It would be unlikely for a Buddhist to join an army as a career, but they might for other reasons. It is against Buddhist principles to kill or even eat meat, but these principles are voluntary. A monk that swore a vow not to kill might have to give up their position.
What you said about eating meat is simply not true...although Buddha advises a vegetarian diet its not required... Abstaining from harming any living creature is included in the 5 precepts, 8 precepts, and 10 precepts.....ofcourse this is really no different than the ten commandments which says thou shalt not kill...
Like all the precepts, they are suggestions rather than laws, but most ordained monks take them seriously. A person that was merely raised to be Buddhist is under less compulsion to follow them than a monk.
That's not true. The vast majority of the rules that were made by the Buddha for the Bhikkus were directly tied to not making a nuisance of the Sangha. Buddha recognized that the Sangha was a parasite on its host community, and keeopiong mindful of that is what is most important. The Monk is supposed to eat twice a day. He is supposed to eat only handouts. He is not supposed to request anything in particular. He is supposed to eat whatever he is given. Members of th host community should be aware that the ideal is to not eat meat, but a monk is NEVER to refuse alms, or complain about food. The Dalai Lama is not vegetarian (and he doesn't even live the monastic lifesyle, surviving off alms). The only major religion in the world that requires its adherents to be vegetarian is Jain.
the zen buddhists of the shaolin temple back in wartorn china used to be the emporers personal bodygaurds, and also go on rescue missions. you would think they used the swords they train with every day or the spears, but nope those are for training only, and they used simple bo staffs, peace.
Honest Request : you know what, this is certainly not a place to swear. Personally, i would appreciate if you keep offensive words in closet. Thanks
from what little i understand with buddhism the action is not as important as the intention/reason.so it would be entirely possible for a buddhist nation to go to war to defend its country as long as the intention was not that of killing the enemy but of clearing the land.. might be way off base though./
