and I thought Buddhists were nice people. Someone please explain.

I have been equally shocked. Having read and admired the psychological insight of buddhist works I cant understand how anyone who takes one word of it to heart could say something mean to another let alone murder them...

I suppose it just shows that most people follow the herd and pay lip service to social norms where they happen to live..it is nothing to do with buddhism, just human nature...over and over again
...

I have always felt that the only morality MUST be an individual one. Many parts of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism are good. If they fit you; use and agree with those parts but do not swallow the whole. Likewise being a Vegan or a Ban The Bomber supporter or any of the other "bulk" philosophies. We are all different. If you're Lactic Intolerant, don't eat or drink dairy. If you're allergic to nuts, don't eat them. But we are all different. Suit your morality to your individual character, soul and body.

JK2006 wrote:
I have always felt that the only morality MUST be an individual one. Many parts of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism are good. If they fit you; use and agree with those parts but do not swallow the whole. Likewise being a Vegan or a Ban The Bomber supporter or any of the other "bulk" philosophies. We are all different. If you're Lactic Intolerant, don't eat or drink dairy. If you're allergic to nuts, don't eat them. But we are all different. Suit your morality to your individual character, soul and body.

We need a collective morality as a baseline, otherwise your morality might be that it is ok to kill porky middle aged Liverpudlians, which might be inconvenient for me.

You're right as usual Honey; certain morals must be universal; not killing or hurting other people (or even, some believe, living things, which I do believe but some are unavoidable - food - and I worry about giving life forms values - i.e. is a carrot less worthy of life than a chicken?).

And what is the excuse of that lady who was hailed of the saviour of democracy in Burma who loved listening to DLT? Or is democracy, yet again, not working?