November 11, 1918, and 11:11 AM, the war that was supposed to end all wars ended. In a way, anyway, and not quite immediately. It was the Great War, and then everything else, although in theory it was supposed to be nothing else. The New York Times published the following list of wars that were current on and after November 9, 1919:
1. War of Independence in Estonia and Latvia
2. White Army of General Yudenich
4. White Army of Kolchak's in Siberia
5. General Denikin's White Army
6. General Petlura's Ukrainian directorate
8. Silesia tension between the Poles and Germans.
9. Romanian occupation of Hungary
10. Gabriele D'Annunzio's seizes Fiume, creates the Italian Regency of Carnaro
11. In Albania promiscuous fighting is going on
12. Turkish War of Independence
And there was that thing that happened in Russia 1917, except it was two things, which was followed by another thing with the Bolshevik Red Army against the Royalist Whites. And Ireland in 1916, followed up by another one against the British from 1919-21, and then the Irish Civil War. And then there was everything that followed, not in any small part due to the British and French getting out straight edges and drawing right angles and lines where there weren’t any actual divisions in the Middle East and elsewhere, consequences of which are still being felt today.
Okay, so it wasn’t the war to end all wars. That probably had something to do with people—people who thought of “The War” as something that was an entity. They gave it a personality, an existence of its own. They neglected to notice that there was no monolithic “War” that had a binary existence. Peace peace peace peace, war war war war war, peace peace peace. People tried to sneak another war in hoping no one would notice that war was supposed to be ended. They definitely didn’t take unintended consequences into account in the wake of the Great War, and even after the causes and conditions that precipitated the Second World War they still didn’t learn, and still continue to create causes and conditions that lead to wars.
“A true disciple knows that there is no such thing as a self, a person, a living being, or a universal self. A true disciple knows that all things are devoid of selfhood, devoid of any separate individuality.”
Diamond Sutra Chapter 17
Wars are devoid or separate permanent self-ness just like the people who fight them are characterized by that lack. The same can be said of nation, nationality, race, religion, class, and station in life, and all the other “causes” people feel that a war is good solution to the problems these create. The idea path of least resistance is the path of violent resistance is too easy. Thoughtless reaction is easier than thoughtfully responding. The instant gratification of violence is looked upon more favorably than delayed peace.
“Subhuti, when I talk about the practice of transcendent patience, I do not hold onto any arbitrary conceptions about the phenomena of patience, I merely refer to it as the practice of transcendent patience. And why is that? Because when, thousands of lifetimes ago, the Prince of Kalinga severed the flesh from my limbs and my body I had no perception of a self, a being, a soul, or a universal self. If I had cherished any of these arbitrary notions at the time my limbs were being torn away, I would have fallen into anger and hatred.”
Diamond Sutra Chapter 14
The perfection of patience, tolerance, forbearance—kṣānti—is something that is obviously lacking in war, but sometimes in less obvious ways. If people identify as a member of a group (strike 1), and this group is oppressed (strike 2) by another self-identified group, and this in turns breeds anger and hatred back in group one (strike 3), the cycle sews the seeds, fertilizes, and helps sprout conflict. And yet, group two takes no responsibility for the causes and conditions they created, and group one justifies their actions based on the concept of a group as an entity that has a unified self-nature and permanence. Let’s face it, it’s been a while since anyone identified as a member of the Mongol Horde or Thuringian.
Asymmetrical warfare is where the armed forces of a nation confronts and is confronted by an opposition force that may wear uniforms, may have separate living quarters from civilians, may have organized training, may have regular sources to weaponry, and may have organized missions. And they may not. More often than not, the asymmetrical forces will identify as freedom fighters. Their opponents identify them as terrorists. Combatants living at home with family may be identified as members of a community, the “other” perceives that as using human shields or taking hostages. Both sides are “protecting” themselves and the others they identify as being identical to them.
Identity—attachment to the concept of individual and group self. Aversion to what is perceived as unpleasant. Views—any views. Perceptions shown by playing mind reader. Perceptions of what constitutes difficulty. Perceiving “us” and “them” as real. Assuming the permanence of situations. Assuming the permanence of “the other.” All are problems created by misguided thinking. All are hindrances to satisfaction & happiness. Clinging to concepts and beliefs as if they were real, is ignorance.
At this instant, before the bullet is fired, before the bomb explodes, there is peace. At this instant, everything reflects truth. But this instant can be disrupted by another instant that is decidedly different.
Things always change; that is the ultimate reality. We have to accept that, as pleasant or unpleasant as we think it is. Acceptance of reality doesn’t require a lack of participation in this instant. The vortex of reality will swirl, and we are active participants in it. But accepting that and settling for an instant of chaos only results in the next moment of chaos, and a different moment of chaos to follow.
While accepting reality as it is (in this instant) we don’t need to settle for being active participants in the moments of chaos just because it appears to be the easiest, less courageous course.