Master Sheng Yen's Words on War

An excerpt from Master Sheng Yen's talk, March 26, 2003

As a religious teacher, I do not support any kind of war. War brings the greatest harm to the lives and resources of human civilization. Especially with the development of high-tech military weapons of great power, the potential destruction that can be created is hard to predict. It is best to have peace without war. However, throughout history, there has never been an extended period of time with only peace and no war.

The main reasons for the outbreak of war are for the sake of challenging or punishing another, or for self-defense. When war is inevitable, I believe that displays of military force which mainly serve to intimidate the enemy and at the same time minimize the destruction of life and property are better relative to other sorts of wars. However, a war should never take place just for the sake of killing. 

If all human beings can truly love others as they do themselves, love their people, and also love everyone else in the world, war would not take place. However, anyone can talk about loving others as self, but still regard certain people as demons, enemies, and not love others unconditionally, then war is inevitable. 

The American-Iraq war has already begun. Under the current circumstances, I pray that this war end soon, and that the destruction, casualties and death be minimal. We should focus on how to help the victims of the war to rebuild their destroyed homeland once the war is over.