Precepts for Warriors, Part III, On Stealing

"Avoid taking that which is not given."

Thich Nhat Hanh writes in The Heart of Buddha's Teaching:  "Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to cultivating loving kindness and learning ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants and minerals.  I will practice generosity by sharing my time, energy and material resources with those who are in real need.  I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others.  I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth."

I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

Not only does this training proscribe the unethical taking of property, and not only does does this training teach the active practice of generosity, but in no uncertain terms are we exhorted to pro-actively prevent others from benefiting from the suffering of others.

In my very humble opinion, if there was ever any doubt that a Buddhist could fulfill his or her Boddhisatva vows as a police officer or as a soldier, this teaching dissolves that doubt.  This is the essence of the term "Fierce Boddhisatva," implying a warrior's commitment to the protection of rights and freedoms for all beings.  In the web of interdependence, if one being is oppressed, we are all oppressed.