Instinct and Restraint

Another post in my backlog that I wanted to share. I really didn’t intend this to relate to any recent events or anything, I just think it’s an evergreen quote by Captain Kirk.

[War] is instinctive. But the instinct can be fought. We’re human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands! But we can stop it. We can admit that we’re killers… but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes! Knowing that we’re not going to kill – today!

Kirk, “A Taste of Armageddon”, stardate 3192.1

The Buddha was also very clear about the need for disciples to give up violence. This is not always easy, but the cost of war is rarely small.

Namu Amida Butsu