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