Ha ha ha.. I got to see monks fist fight in Bangkok once (political turmoil that I don't understand was unfolding), those skinny dudes can punch !!!! ... It's something to dwell on when you get to see the most "peaceful" people in the world loose their cool....agree, people is just people everywhere

I'm interested in why you think the persecution of the Rohingya is an example of Buddhism being put into practice. Do you think the Mongol invasions were an example of shamanism being put into practice or that the Holocaust was Christianity being put into practice or do you think it's more complex than that?

@Gareth possibly I used the wrong phrase to make my point... I think it might be a lot more simple than what you're saying. I think that people are people are people meaning that when the economy is going smoothly and needs are met, religious and nonbelievers are capable of meeting high ideals. I believe wars are fought when there's hardship, people feel threatened. (From what I read on Myanmar, this is true. The Buddhists felt their way of life was threatened by the Rohingya.) Also, there are pockets on either extreme: those that welcome adversity and diversity (I saw this living in the predominantly Jewish community N of Detroit during the 1960s riots. Every community in that area experienced white flight but the Jews stayed put because their synagogues held well established communities. Instead they piloted programs of integration and welcomed in the African American kids that were being bussed in. We were a mixed group to begin with but man did we all have to learn tolerance. There were some very impressive leadership in that. And not saying all Jewish communities are this open minded but they've started a lot of institutions that are based in that. And then, of course, there are many examples of individuals that show incredible courage in the face of adversity: the individuals that put their necks on the line to hide or save the persecuted from the Nazis during WWII.). On the other extreme, there were peoples whose livelihood was based in plunder and that, as far as I know would include the Mongols. Clearly EXTREMISTS in any religion justify their actions by being God's chosen. But when any body of people that are typically law abiding rise up and commit heinous acts, THAT is where my interest lies. Beliefs appear to be a veneer and underlying that is some raw human instinct for survival.
So, my turn of phrase should not have been 'when put into practice' but rather 'when push comes to shove' because clearly what's happening in Myanmar is perplexingly out of the ordinary for all I've heard of Buddhism.

@IamNobody thanks for that! Beautiful example of what I'm trying to say about people. You really saw people in action in your journies!

@crazycurlz I have been around the block and my nature has always been to observe things. Hey, if I get a first hands opportunity to experience whatever life throws at me, I'll take it !!

@IamNobody cool!

IMO the Dalai Lama has a good perspective. I'll let him speak for himself.

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." -- Dalai Lama

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." -- Dalai Lama

“If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.” -- Dalai Lama