Some thoughts and questions on the chapter: “Why We Love War”

While I do agree that the modern person is confronted with more distractions which act to hide our underlying sense of lack as compared to the pre-modern. I do not think that this baseline sense of lack is deepened by modernization and the ensuing movement away from religion. Throughout history, both in the pre-modern world and the modern, humans have always found ways of clouding our underlying sense of lack through diversionary means such as playing billiards or the excitement of war. I am reminded of Pascal’s Pensées (17^th century) where he explores the various means in which we mask our underlying wretchedness. If we go back further to the pre-modern 11^th century, Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was writing of the inadequacies of humans in relation to God. This shows us that even before modern time this similar sense of lack is present, and that our sense of lack is enduring regardless of history or religiosity which suggests that religion alone is not necessarily the answer. Thus I think a secular approach to resolve our lack is as valid as a religious one. Today, many people seek out help via secular approaches which also attempts to explore the roots of the problem of the self such as psychotherapy or mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR).

Question: So what about the value of secularism?

In Buddhist practice, only those who are fully enlightened are free from any sense of lack. I wonder how many practitioners (religious and secular) have attained this state of complete freedom in their practice, most likely very few. Yet without attainment of this stage, there still exist the seeds of hatred, greed, and delusion in an individual and thus the seeds of war. Further, I do not think it is plausible for everyone to go through extensive psychotherapy or become fully enlightened through MBSR. I am left wondering if our sense of lack is simply a fact of the general human condition and if it will always be present on a large scale.

Questions: Do you think it is possible to resolve our sense of lack on a large scale? Is it necessary that all, as opposed to just a few, are free from a sense of lack in order to find worldwide peace? 

Unrelated to the chapter or even the book, in Buddhist practice, often one is told to “just sit.” Monks are trained to practice without an expectation of what they will experience while practicing mindfulness, and in this way one actually comes to a greater understanding. However, this approach could never hold up in the scientific community which requires researched evidence and findings. 

Questions: How are today’s attempts to scientifically measure the effects of meditation through extensive psychological and biological testing changing our approach to practicing Buddhism meditation in both the secular and religious realms? In what ways does the scientific and secular world clash with Buddhist approaches to meditation and in what ways does it contribute to its development?

-Bennett