For Buddhists, Apparently random approaches, Each which seem to contain meaning, Together, seem to point to a bigger picture of happiness.
Being apparently random or even immature, Can bring us to understand happiness. However, Sometimes the truth hurts to hear, And we need to stop, And then think about what we are going to do about it.
'Being Skillful' would be meaningful to me as it allows one to acknowledge that honesty all the time can lead to suffering as well and sometimes even 'virtue' needs to be tempered by it's own consequences. In moments like the one above 'Sometimes the truth hurts to hear, and we need to stop....' may be reason to attempt being skillful. But like Keith was kind of saying, it's only skillful if done skilllfully. 'Skillful' is a concept I've had issues with in the past. At first it seemed like a cop out to me; a loophole for falsehoods. But as I continue grow my understanding, I find it vastly more interesting and subtle of a concept.
Being skillful would be meaningful to you, As long as it allows you to acknowledge, That honesty needs to be diminished? If we genuinely care about someone, We will ideally try to be honest with that person, But, in an effort to temper any suffering involved, We may temporarily try to do it tactfully (indirectly?) So that at some point, it can be discussed directly and openly.
Tact is trying to always tell the truth while avoiding suffering, So that at some point people can be direct and open. Being direct and open is involved in diplomacy, And diplomacy is a non-violent way, Toward no violence. Is this how violence is external to Buddhism?
Ahimsa means 'harmlessness.' It doesn't translate into 'just to sentient beings.' Also, what was harmless yesterday now is harmful. Like stripmining and all the decimation, like using petroleum. Things now may mean the death of the whole planet. Also, what one person does may make no difference and so also be harmless. For instance, I live in a place where a hurricane destroyed the whole town. Now we are one third of the population and the landfill they say from the storm was fifty whole years worth. My ecological footprint just got downsized. Also, ahimsa is often misinterpreted to mean vegetarian. This isn't correct. There are innumerable beings killed in the soil, the air, the transportation, and harmful conditions for the peon laborers. No person who eats does so without harming other beings. It just cannot happen. But what can happen is that beings can be fulfilled and happy while they live. The Earth has yet never known a society where this has happened. The Jains perhaps are closest. Not even Buddhists live a life of true ahimsa - that is - not the whole unassorted group of Buddhists. Some do though. Also Buddha was not vegetarian. It is thought that he died after eating alms of bad pork. He told his followers to bury the pork and mushroom dish and to not eat it but he ate it anyway to not offend the person who gave it to him. That person was named Cunda. Knowing his death was due he lay on his right side with head in hand and died peacefully. This is why pork is not eaten by Buddhists, and to Tibetans especially pork is a symbol of ignorance. But that's all besides the point. Buddha taught that there's two rules about eating meat - one - the person should never have seen the face of the animal, and two - the person may not chose an animal to be slaughtered. Buddha chose the path of living on alms his whole known life. He considered it wrongful to turn down any food offered no matter how disgusting. As he pointed to Earth when the Mara asks him what right he can claim liberatation he is acknowledging Earth as the ultimate. So eating alms is similar. Earth gives rise only to good. This is a bit of knowledge which can help one in ahimsa. Nothing of Earth is bad, it is just made bad through misuse. Ahimsa is a path. It is not an attainment because as soon as you think you are not harmful you become harmful. Your best guide in adoring ahimsa is in having the best intention. If you are unclear then your feelings will tell you - if you are acting from anger or hate or some other distress then and coupled with intention then that is not a good intention. If you are feeling love, gratitude, peace, couple with intention then you are doing the best you can. People talk about good and bad karma. What is the karma of an arm or a eyeball? Most people on Earth have the same aspects. Omitting those with what we consider defects - which might be simplifications sometimes and probably blessings - but what is the karma of the tongue? We all eat things, we all see things, walk places, we don't like, and things we do like. Karma is based in your intention. If your intention is always good then you can feel good and deserving of all the riches of this Earth but most specifically you can have reciprical love - the most awesome blessing ever. If you have bad intentions then you wonder why bad shit happens and if you're a lying, cheating scoundrel you will isolate yourself and will never experience reciprocal love. That's my dos pesos Sistas.
Non-violence is an escape from reality - Violence: fact. The human mind and body is violent. Non-violence: fantasy. A goal which can only turn the innate violence of the body and mind inwards and do violence unto ourselves. Which is why buddhists enjoy ascetic activities like vegetarianism, sitting in one position for hours and control of the mind.
I think it is YOU who does not see much. All paths lead to enlightenment. You could obtain a buddhist perspective from the bible, the words are there.
