Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Buddhism, Politics, and Violence

"He abused me, he struck me, 
he overpowered me,
he robbed me." 
Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.

- Dhammapada Verse 3
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.
By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.
This is a law eternal - Dhammapada Verse 5
There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels - Dhammapada Verse 6
'Buddhism and Politics'
'.. The basis of religion is morality, purity and faith, while that for politics is power. In the course of history, religion has often been used to give legitimacy to those in power and their exercise of that power. Religion was used to justify wars and conquests, persecutions, atrocities, rebellions, destruction of works of art and culture.
When religion is used to pander to political whims, it has to forgo its high moral ideals and become debased by worldly political demands.
The thrust of the Buddha Dhamma is not directed to the creation of new political institutions and establishing political arrangements. Basically, it seeks to approach the problems of society by reforming the individuals constituting that society and by suggesting some general principles through which the society can be guided towards greater humanism, improved welfare of its members, and more equitable sharing of resources.
There is a limit to the extent to which a political system can safeguard the happiness and prosperity of its people. No political system, no matter how ideal it may appear to be, can bring about peace and happiness as long as the people in the system are dominated by greed, hatred and delusion. In addition, no matter what political system is adopted, there are certain universal factors which the members of that society will have to experience: the effects of good and bad kamma, the lack of real satisfaction or everlasting happiness in the world characterized by dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence), and anatta (egolessness). To the Buddhist, nowhere in Samsara is there real freedom, not even in the heavens or the world of Brahama.
Although a good and just political system which guarantees basic human rights and contains checks and balances to the use of power is an important condition for a happy in society, people should not fritter away their time by endlessly searching for the ultimate political system where men can be completely free, because complete freedom cannot be found in any system but only in minds which are free....'
- 'Buddhism and Politics' in 'What Buddhists Believe' by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
Dhamma Sharing on 'Terrorism and Peace' by Ajahn Brahmavamso
at this link ...http://podcast.bswa.org/e/terrorism-and-peace-by-ajahn-br…/…

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