Conflict and Peace in Buddhism

Background: A detailed analysis is required to talk about religion and spirituality. We are trying to make it clear taking reference to oriental and occidental point of views regarding religions.

Religion is "dharma" originated from Sanskrit word "dharane" (which means to perceive) and is thought to be from the root word “dhriya". It explains that religion (dharma) is one that is accepted by its intrinsic quality. Burning or fierceness is the “dharma” of fire as for instance. Acharya Chanakya has said that "Dharanar Dimarma Mityahu Dharmo Dharayate Praja, Tetsyadwarana Samyukta Sadharma iti Nischaya". It is deciphered like dharma (religion) is the one that is accepted evenly by many people. Similarly, good deeds are regarded as dharma (religious) and bad deeds as adharma (irreligious) in oriental concept.

In occidental point of view, religion is regarded to be originated from “religion” which means something like unite(bind). From this we know religion in western society is thought to be a source of codes of conduct of humankind and the set of processes of rites and rituals.

The oriental philosophers do plunge in thoughts in these differences of definitions. "There is the wide belief in eastern culture that religion is the basic pillar of the world. Thus, oriental philosophy seems heightened from narrow concept of communal or racial feelings.

In short, religion is the belief in supernatural sovereignty of god who governs the universe. In the due course of time, the supernatural almighty power of god was eventually promulgated as religion by sages and saints and various incarnations and messengers of gods are representing different religions on earth.

Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautam, the messenger of peace, was the founder of Buddhism. It is respectable and well-known to all as Buddhist philosophy. The preliminary Buddhist philosophy has its special place in the history of philosophy due to its originality.

Let us first elaborate in detail about the prominent founder of this religion and philosophy.

Siddhartha Gautam was born in a royal family in Lumbini, Nepal in 562 B.C. He was brought up by his step mother Prajapati Gautami due to demise of his mother Mayadevi within the 7th day of his life. Perhaps it is for this reason that he was called Gautam. Despite the luxury of the palace crown prince, the early death of his beloved mother drew him towards seclusion. Seeing this, his father Suddhodhana married him with Yasodhara. A son (Rahul) was born to her. Despite these, the scenes of disease, elderly, death and seclusion grew more distaste towards 'life' in him. So, one night, he quietly left the palace leaving his wife, son and father rejecting all his royal endowments.

The seclusion from life and world was for the search of truth and peace. True happiness can’t be obtained from luxury rather it can be acquainted from hardships. His preaching like this in a sense, proved that he longed for the peace-the peace of mind.

Gautam Buddha traveled around various places for six years in search of peace. But this could not give him the eternal peace. Then he went to “Boddhagaya", stayed fast and vigil and began meditation. This couldn’t prove significant either. So, he resumed eating and sat under a peepal tree in deep concentration. It is during this time that he acquired the 'knowledge' and consequently got the peace of mind. This changed Siddhartha Gautam to Gautam Buddha. Thus, he reached the state of salvation by self enlightenment and preaching his knowledge, he got 'nirvana' at the age of forty in 483 B.C. in Kushinaga of India.

The Buddhist Doctrines

After enlightenment, Gautam Buddha first persuaded his five disciples who had abandoned him after he sat for the meditation. Later, they established themselves pillars of Buddhism to spread it all over as a religion. These disciples were named Kaundaya, Bhaddieya, Bappa, Maahanaam and Assanni. He once said to his disciples 43, “Dear Monks! You should never accept the following two extremities:

The lust for sexual pleasure, and The torture to your body

Leaving these two extremes, I searched for the mid way which gives a vision, knowledge and peace. This is the way of Aryans and eight-fold path viz. Right Vision, Right Determination, Right Speech, Right work, Right Effort, Right Memory, Right Devotion and Right Livelihood.”

Thus, Buddha’s first doctrine gives emphasis to knowledge, behaviour and peace for ultimate salvation. Buddha, who always focused on abstinence to violence, is well-known throughout the world as the image of non-violence. There are four truth based areas on which Buddha was able to pursue his followers to take the path of peace and salvation. They are:

There is grief in this world.

This grief has cause.                                    

The cause is the desire or lust.

The sorrow can be overcome by destroying the lust

Such a doctrine would enable all the followers to reach the state of salvation leaving aside all sorts of vices including violence and to represent them as peace mangers aiding to establishment of peace among Individuals, communities and countries.  

Buddhist Philosophy: Buddha has provided ample philosophical grounds on which his doctrines are based upon. It has encompassed 'Anitya, Dukh ra Anatma' meaning impermanence, suffering and ethereal. The crux of this doctrine is "Dependant Origination".45 it is such philosophical basis for the religion which has helped Buddhism to keep its influence over new sectors and individuals till this date.

Gautam Buddha never looked exhausted in his venture of spreading his knowledge and religion and expanding the volume of followers. Wherever he went he got warm welcome and respect. He is not only the witness of the glorious history of Nepal but also the symbol of her present and future. Peace and Buddha have become a dearly synonyms in today’s world. Because Buddha is successful to put an impression as symbol of peace, love and faith to all creatures under the dome, lot of people tending to change their religion to Buddhism has become a common notion. Out of many religions Buddhism is the one which is being voluntarily and automatically spread all over the world. This is the big specialty and a natural victory of Buddhism to be wide spread without using any resources and power.

The United Nations organization has passed a proposal inferring Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha as the ‘Fountain of World Peace and Light of the World. This is a great honour given to Nepal as the centre of world peace.

Buddhism and the Deviation

This part of the history unfortunately faces divisions even in the vision to look at Buddhism. The factions are Hinayan and Mahayan which differ in the idea whether to worship Buddha as God or not. Hinayan believes in the ‘nirvana’ or salvation through meditation as per Buddha’s doctrine. On the contrary, Mahayan takes Buddha as the God and believes that enlightenment can be achieved through worship. There is a big distance between these two schools of thought. But this difference does not significantly affect the peace process as both stand against violence.

Posted on : 2009-12-02 15:04:34

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