tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post5119057148505458999..comments2024-03-28T14:11:24.265-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: Groan! Groan!Shravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-71925879866470888192009-12-12T06:52:25.557-08:002009-12-12T06:52:25.557-08:00Dear Richard,
You were instructed in the ‘theory’ ...Dear Richard,<br />You were instructed in the ‘theory’ which is often one thing while the reality is something else, in Buddhism as in other religions and other areas of life, as I am sure your aware. In Sri Lanka and other Buddhist countries public opinion may well keep a monk from ignoring the rules but if it doesn’t, there is not really much anyone can do about it. A Christian pastor’s job is to look after his flock and not get involved in politics but that didn’t stop Pat Robertson running for the presidency. How can this happen? The US, like Sri Lanka, is a democracy, people can do what they like, including ignoring the letter and the spirit of their faith. And I'm sure it's as common in the US as it is in Sri Lanka, Burma, etc, where it certainly is very common.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-19908616541906487812009-12-12T05:55:47.855-08:002009-12-12T05:55:47.855-08:00Now, I'm just a lay follower, but was I incorr...Now, I'm just a lay follower, but was I incorrectly instructed that monks do not join political parties and become politically active in the sense that they run for political office? How can a monk be an elected official and a monk following the monastic code at the same time?<br /><br />I am confused.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-63979828695652277682009-12-12T04:27:33.474-08:002009-12-12T04:27:33.474-08:00......Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09647938294988656197noreply@blogger.com