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Summary on nonviolence
Summary on nonviolence
Essays by the dalai lama
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Traditionally, Buddhism is known primarily as a peaceful religion, but what techniques and resources do Buddhists use to be so peaceful with their actions? One technique they amplify is nonviolence; this means solving conflict in a manner that does not use any type of violence. The next technique Buddhists use for peace is suffering, including understanding and accepting suffering altogether. Peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh describes suffering as a way to “become a bell of mindfulness” (Hanh, 2001). The third technique for peace that Buddhists use is the Fourteen Precepts of the Order of Interbeing; these are fourteen guidelines, similar to the Ten Commandments, that are rules to live by to access the highest level of belief and to reach
This statement that Dalai Lama delivers reveals so much about his character as a peace activist leaning towards the direction of nonviolence and peace between all types of religions, cultures and societies. Dalai Lama was honored to win and accept the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in promoting peace and nonviolence in the Buddhist religious movement. Dalai Lama is a monk from Tibet who is known for his love, compassion and nonviolence, which he practices (Lama, 1989). During his acceptance speech, he expresses that he accepts his award not only for himself, but also as a tribute to those who have promoted world peace and nonviolence before him, one including Mahatma Gandhi. Dalai Lama also states that Gandhi is someone who he looks up to as an inspiration and someone who has taught him many life long lessons, including more than just
These are important guidelines to live life in an appropriate Buddhist way. The first precept is to not be attached to any one doctrine or theory, even Buddhist ones (Hanh, n.d). The second precept is to avoid being close-minded and be ready and open to learn new things. The third precept is to not force beliefs on others, let others decide their religious views on their own. The fourth precept is to not avoid suffering, accept it and learn from it (Hanh, n.d). Do not be selfish with money or belongings are included in the fifth precept of the Order of Interbeing. The sixth precept is to not be angry or hold a grudge for too long because it hurts relationships and is not healthy. The art of practicing breathing (yoga) and to be a peace with personal surroundings is included in the seventh precept. The eighth and ninth precept are very similar, the eighth precept is to not say things that can affect the community in a negative way and the ninth precept is to not tell a lie, gossip untruthful things and to always have courage to speak their opinions (Hanh, n.d). The tenth precept is to not boast in the Buddhist community, especially for personal gain. To live a life with a career that does not harm individuals in any way is the eleventh precept. The twelfth precept is do not kill and do not let anyone else kill, this precept also goes along with the nonviolence factor (Hanh,
“ First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win” (Mahatma Gandhi). Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar. Throughout his life Gandhi helped those in need. He was taught that everyone and everything is holy. He married at the custom age of 19 and went to London to study law. The thing that helped Gandhi promote nonviolence is that he worked his entire life saying that violence didn’t change the way people acted. He lived his life saying that an eye for an eye only made the whole world blind. Gandhi’s nonviolent movement worked because he had something to prove and everyone else in the world agreed with him.
Hanh, T. N. (2008). The World We Have : A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology. Berkeley: Parallax Press.
Americans have created their own vision of Buddhism with the unique understandings of the United States, its objectives and potential. Their idea of what a good or “mindful” society should be like is influenced by their beliefs. Such beliefs include: the specific qualities that Americans should have, the practices they should engage in, their participation in politics, law, education, legal and medical systems, the military, and so on. The adoption of mindfulness to all these important aspects that are highly valued by Americans is how the believe they create a good, mindful
Buddhism is currently the fourth most popular religion in our society today, following Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Its major ideologies are based on the philosophies of Siddhartha Guatama, also known as “Buddha”, who began his teachings in 598 BCE at the age of 35, according to Buddhist texts. A Buddhist’s foremost aspiration is the obtainment of Bodhi, or enlightenment through meditation and Anapana-sati (awareness of the breath). Buddhism shares many ideologies with India’s Hinduism and Yoga such as non-harming, non-violence, and self-awareness. In many instances, people regard Buddhism as a way of life rather than a religion, for it has no clear belief in the idea of a God or Gods. Its structure is built upon a hierarchy much like Christianity where superior orders such as Lamas or the Dalai Lama are said to be chosen by nature through the process of reincarnation rather than by a council like Christianity’s Pope. Though these “higher level” Buddhists are rare (not everyone is a reincarnation of an ancient Buddhist “priest”), all are permitted to follow “The Middle Way” either as a Buddhist monk or the simple attendance of a weekly teaching session from time to time. Throughout the last few hundred years the Buddhist population has blossomed into a healthy 381,611,000 and over fifteen different sects including Zen, Mahayana, and Theravada.
principle (being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, achieving economic well-being and making a positive a positive contribution.
He also makes reference to the long history of religious intolerance and persecution within the Christian tradition, brought about by greed, mistrust, and ignorance. He emphasizes the need for continuous practice, prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and personal growth within individual religious traditions and cultures. We must make the spirit of the Buddha and the spirit of Christ part of our everyday lives. He explores the “Five Wonderful Percepts of Buddhism”: reverence for life, generosity, responsible sexual behavior, speaking and listening deeply, and ingesting only wholesome substances; comparing them to the teachings of Christ. These precepts are without a doubt, very similar to the principles thought by Christ and his apostles. Each precept or teaching works with the next, interconnecting and building upon each other toward the same goal to end suffering, bring about personal and worldly understanding, world peace, and spiritual
Rinpoche, Samdhong. Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World: Tibetan Buddhism in Today’s World; forward by 14th Dalai Lama. (Tibet: World Wisdom, 2006), 264.
Lama, Dalai, XIV. Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come
Peace of mind, body and spirit, in a personal sense, a social sense and a universal sense. Although they share the same goal, adherents of the faiths have difference conceptions of what a ‘state of peace’ encompasses, and the path to which it may be attained. For Christians, the ultimate peace is in the afterlife, in heaven, where believers will find their salvation. In heaven there is no sin, Christians can see God, and live in his presence, whilst anyone who does not choose to believe within their lifetime on earth, will go to hell, a place of eternal pain and suffering. For Buddhists, peace is found in nirvana, through enlightenment, whereby one experiences perpetual rebirth until this ultimate harmony is achieved. Buddhism and Christianity both care about the Self and the Other, but the order is reversed. Buddhists believe that in serving yourself you serve others, focusing on your own path to enlightenment, and practicing loving kindness, will leads to social transformation and world peace. Christians on the other hand serve others in order to serve self, believing that by following Jesus’ instructions and entering relationship with
He set these rules to help create a peaceful atmosphere for the Buddhist community and to avoid corruption in the Buddhist community. All monks and/or nuns must not only follow these rules, but also many other rules and principles. The Eightfold Path labels all of the rights of monks and helps guide them to peace within themselves. The Eightfold Path guides monks and nuns towards Nirvana through eight simple principles. The first principle, the Right of Understanding, explains the significance of understanding situations the way they occur instead of understanding things from one’s personal experiences.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple monk, yet is perceived as the spiritual leader of tibet. Tibet is located to the south-west of China, also bordering India, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan. The Dalai Lama was situated in strict seclusion in Tibet from the time he was two years old, only communicating with his immediate family and treated as a virtual prisoner. Tibetans believed without the Dalai Lama, there would be no Tibet. In 1959, the Dalai Lama escaped to India in exile. In 1989, the Dalai Lama won the Noble Peace Prize and reached worldwide fame. His envoy of compassion and aura, draw society in and has attracted significant figures, including Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela and many more. The Dalai Lama is not only popular for his escape nor books, but for the leadership role he has partaken in society and his participation in
...or our own happiness and enjoyment of all things. The Dalai Lama argues where else could the greatest and most meaningful form of happiness come from if not from sharing the love and understanding with every person on earth regardless of your dislike in them, the difference in social class, or the level of work you do at your jobs. He says, “Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are the fundamental to the continued survival of our species.” (Dalai Lama, pg. 67). In other words, unconditional love is what keeps our human existence alive and well.
“I desire not of the Lord the greatness which comes by the attainment of the eightfold powers, nor do I pray to him that I may not be born again; my one prayer to him is that I may feel the pain of others, as if I were residing within their bodies, and that I may have the power of relieving their pain and making them happy.” (Santi Deva, pg. 148). This quote is a perfect representation of conflict of interests between values of our society and those of the Buddhists. The quote captivated me because it is completely opposite to the ideals in our society. The “...
Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of reality. The religion is more neutral than one may find in a traditional Church. Buddhism needs to be preserved as something very complex. There are a variety of beliefs, ideas and norms of human behavior embedded in Buddhist literature. Within the tradition of Buddhism there are variations of the tradition. Elite forms of the religion are more intellectualized and more philosophical or theological. The people in this elite cast often ...