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This is the second part for the topic Buddhism, Peace, and the community. This presentation is all about how Buddhism promotes peace and how the two are connected. Of course, the presentation also tries to see how to have the two--Buddhism and Peace-- and use it to better a community. All pictures are not mine-- pls. don't sue me ahahaha This presentation is all but for education.
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Contribution of Buddhism toCivilization and Peace
Part 3-- PEACE
What is peace?
Full Definition of PEACE in Miriam-Webster dictionary1: a state of tranquility or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom <a breach of the peace>
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3: harmony in personal relations
4: a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
Recognition of the Dignity and Equal rights of all people is the foundation of peace
---Preamble, UN Declaration of 1948
“Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order--in short, of government.”
--Albert Einstein
Perspective of some well known Buddhists on Peace
How to attain peace? Peace starts within in us first
We will study the essay of
Dr. Yoichi Kawada Director of the Institute of Oriental
Philosophy
How to attain peace? Peace starts within in us first
He wrote about the idea of doctrine of “Dependent Origination”
“peoples’ existence is interrelated and that the suffering people
experience are connected to the greed, hatred, and ignorance of
others”
Ideas of Dr. Kawada
All things occur and exist because of their interrelationship with other
things.
****Buddhism recognizes the idea of living together and helping each
other
“Each human being exists within the context of interrelationships that include other human beings, all living beings and the natural world.”
In other words, each person continues to live because of our interrelationship with others.
By knowing this idea we are able to grow self-love into love for others; we are able to nurture the spirit of
tolerance (open-mindedness) and empathy (Understanding) for others.
Dr. Kawada’s idea:
The doctrine of dependent origination also provides a
foundation for peace.
In terms of action, PEACE shows itself as the practice
of compassion.
In Buddhism, compassion (kindness) indicates the useful and proper way of
always maintaining an empathetic (kind-hearted) involvement with others. “
How do you maintain emphatic involvement to others?
By “sharing their sufferings and unhappiness, working alongside them” to overcome the wrong desires that are “the root cause of suffering,
transforming these into happiness, benefit and joy.”
Dependent origination says that because we are interconnected, the suffering of people is caused by others.
However, it also be true that the happiness of people can be caused by others.
Dr Kawada adds:
That to choose to be ignorant of this wisdom is to choose to continue the suffering of others, thus attaining no
peace for the self for the neighbors.
Accordingly, people should recognize that everything that exists is interdependent to one another.
Dependent origination says that people who choose to be ignorant to the inter-relatedness of living things would try and find satisfaction for their
greed at the expense of other’s suffering.
Dr Kawada adds:
Ignorance is considered basic among these wrongful desires because it blinds people to the reality of dependent origination;
the unavoidable and all-encompassing interrelatedness within which we live.
Dr Kawada adds:
This ignorance gives rise to the greed that drives people to seek the fulfillment of their desires even at the cost of the
suffering of others.
Ignorance“… also leads to the kind of uncontrolled rage that seeks the destruction of a situation in which one's desires are
frustrated.”
Consider this example
“It is for this reason that wrongful desires because of ignorance is considered equivalent to a fundamental egocentrism.”
“It is a blind and finally self-destructive egocentrism because
it violently severs the strands of the web of life that supports one's
own existence.”
Mr. Kawada is simply saying that those who are ignorant of this interrelatedness, this connection, could cause severe suffering among men.
These ignorant men would do everything just to fulfill and satisfy their personal needs and greed without taking much consideration of the implications of their actions.
Dr. Kawada adds:
In a world where deluded impulses spread their negative effects in the form
of the five defilements (of desire, of thought, of the people, of
life itself and of the age), Buddhism has a particular mission to
contribute to the realization of peace in all places.
“In other words, we should not be content with our inner peace of mind but should broaden our horizons and
extend our endeavors to include abolition of war—
--A peace for the global human community, as well as peace with the
natural world, through truly sustainable development and harmonious
coexistence with the global ecosystem.”
Thus by broadening our horizon about inner peace, we contribute to a global peace needed by a world that has turned into something that wants more physical,
materialism and egocentrism.
By finding peace and sharing it, we would be helping a world where many people
need peace in their lives.
End
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