ABSTRACT
In the Western world, Buddhism is widely regarded as a religion devoted to peace, non-violence, pacifism and opposition to war. There are obvious reasons for this reputation. Traditional Buddhist texts advocated the value of non-harming (ahiṁsā/ahiṁsā). For example, in the Dhammapada we are told "one who is harmless toward all living beings is called a `noble one'" (Carter and Palihawadana 2000: 270). In the Buddha's original teaching, "abandoning the killing of living beings" was said to be the first form of "bodily conduct in accordance with the Dharma" (MN I 287).
