The Buddha and the Warmonger
Who is best to lead men into combat?
A warrior or a wise sage?
Why not someone who is both!
If the leader can be both buddha and general
Then they are fit to lead a conflict
Look at the history of great generals
Alexander, Napoleon, Che Guevara
Generals, rebels and philosophers each
They may have been butchers too
But at least they understood the principles
Why fight a war without understanding the reasons?
Such a leader also knows when to end the war
They must be wise to know when it is won
Or when it is futile and their cause lost
A truly great leader would also understand mercy
Keep discipline among unruly soldiers
Prevent raping, pillaging and looting
Sadly such generals no longer exist
These days we have armchair generals
Politicians more worried about stock markets
Resources to plunder and people to extort
There is no honour in butchery for profit
February 2012.