Politics, Religion, and Engaged Buddhism
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- Опубліковано 14 бер 2018
- With the advent of "engaged Buddhism", Buddhism in the modern world has taken an emphasis on political involvement. We will look at some of the history of religious involvement in politics, with a particular focus on Buddhism, and ask how Buddhism can work best in a secular context.
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Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: amzn.to/2GcpMvm
Walpola Rahula, Heritage of the Bhikkhu: amzn.to/2DA8har
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Love your channel. Thank you for making these videos. It helps me understand Buddhism better.
Thanks a lot A Ahlquist, glad you're finding the videos helpful!
This strongly reminds me of Vajrayana Buddhist teachings that without power, virtue and wisdom accomplish little, but also the qualities that go into virtue can easily give rise to monstrosity if we ignore ambiguity and pretend that everything has a fixed meaning. I believe it is important than our passion for improving society does not lead us to ignore ambiguities and insist that our theories of how the world works are perfect.
That said, I would like to see Buddhists work to accomplish more in politics. Because Buddhism enables equanimity and makes us less reactive, it has the power to enable us to understand people we disagree with in politics more easily than the average person. This could enable Buddhists to build bipartisan political coalitions, find common ground, and help prevent people from talking past each other. Rather than trying to take over, I think western Buddhists should currently focus on playing a critical role in the political eco-system.
Yes indeed Rufus, clinging to views can lead to ideological rigidity. Let’s hope that as Buddhism grows it yields benefit to our political atmosphere. 🙏
This is a great overview and analysis. I'd be interested in hearing more of your thoughts on how to be engaged in a way that could be useful to others without unduly opening oneself to views and attachment. I know you have discussed this quite a few times in various contexts, and I always appreciate your approach.
Yes thanks photistyx! I have a playlist on the general topic of politics and society, the second to last video is on Buddhist practice for social change where I deal with the issues you raise a little more directly: ua-cam.com/play/PL0akoU_OszRhRTFjzEz5i7G8XoNhORcDs.html
In developed countries like Japan, views on abortion among Buddhists are more diverse, with many considering it a regrettable but necessarily evil. Ancient peoples thought of the embryo as a little homonculus, but today we know that an embryo simply does not have the capability to support consciousness, and does not feel pain until some time in the second trimester.
Also, in western Christianity, it was not until the 19th century that abortion was actually considered murder in all cases. Before then, many had the view of Aristotle, that a fetus was not fully a person until it started moving on its own. Abortion was actually legal, for instance, in Puritan England and later in the US, up until the time of "quickening", or when the fetus started moving.
Thanks Magnulus, yes abortion is mostly a contemporary issue around traditional notions of the family.
Great Buddhist ideas 💐👌
Thank you very much for the comment! 🙏
Hi Doug, recent patron here; thanks for reading a comment on an old video. I'm wondering if you're familiar with Ajahn Thanissaro's essay "Wisdom over Justice" or psychologist Jonathan Haidt's book "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion" (among the most personally influential books I've ever read). I expect you would find both interesting. Best wishes.
Thanks Andrew, I have heard of Jonathan Haidt's work but I haven't read his book. Though I know a lot of Thanissaro's writings I'm not sure I've read that one either. Thanks for the recommendations, and for your support over on Patreon! 🙏
After Buddhism came to Sri Lanka, it declined in India due to the rise of Hinduism. While it lost the political patronage in India it had to face pursecution by certain Hindu kings. So monks had to fight for the survival of Buddhism. After the lesson in India they made sure society and politics in Sri Lanka ensured protection of Buddhism. After Sri Lanka faced multiple tamil invasions it was Buddhist monks and the kings who took the steps to write the Pali canon recording Buddhas teachings in ola leaves for the first time. Still there is a social agreement in Sinhala society that it is their duty to preserve Buddhism. You have to understand Walpola Rahula's book in that context
Quite so, but nevertheless his approach was to discuss Buddhism in this context, and take lessons for Buddhism from it.
To understand Walpola Rahula's book on political activities of Bhikkus, one has to read and understand the buddhist history in Sri Lanka. I dont think it is the same in other buddhist countries
That's right IshD, his approach was based on the political history of Sri Lanka.
Euthanasia in my opinion is a way to reduce suffering, unlike killing people in Burma/Myanmar just because they’re Muslim. I don’t think that allowing for euthanasia is necessarily a slippery slope that would allow for other kinds of killings because the whole purpose of it is to reduce suffering. I may have misunderstood your point, correct me if I’m wrong, but I just don’t see euthanasia as a problem.
Thanks Melvin. Yes, I also think euthanasia can be the most compassionate course of action in certain limited cases. I think the point is that we have to be concerned that there not become any "slippery slope" between those limited cases and using the term "euthanasia" improperly to do things that are harmful.
Engaged Buddhism seems to be the result of Buddhist encounter with western ideas, such as western science, philosophy (particularly Marx), or western Christian missionaries that emphasized both material and spiritual development and social work.
Yes, I think it is in part a result of Buddhism's encounter with western ideas, but historically (as indeed Rahula shows) Buddhism has been quite involved in politics since virtually the beginning.
Buddhism is an applied philosophy imho. It's hard to apply it in the secular world.
Indeed Uilium, it's harder than in the monastic environment. That said, the Buddha did give dhamma talks to laypeople, and had quite a bit to say to them. Many laypeople in the Buddha's day got quite far along the path, so it's far from impossible. I think the world would be a better place if we aimed to decrease greed, hatred, and ignorance as the Buddha suggests. 🙂
I'm sorry to let you know that you have grossly misunderstood the teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh who developed the concept and the practice of Engaged Buddhism as a result of living in a war. Please refer to the 14 Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing if you'd like to learn about his teaching. There is no "emphasis on poitical involvement" but there's deep commitment to taking our cushion with us where ever we go so that we are engaged with the practice in each and every breath.
Thanks for that, I don't yet see the misunderstanding. The point of engaged Buddhism is to be socially and politically engaged in the welfare of the world.
Where are all these EnGAGed Buddhists now that the politics are so angry and decisive on a global scale? Many, if not most of the Ebuddhists are doing the defilement...Unfortunatly I'm one of them😬 but I'm against the engaged secular humanisty Buddhists like Angel Kyodo Williams😡 Her wordy interpretation is not a viable interpretation of the Buddha's teaching, it's Mara's teaching. In my honest defiled opinion.
Were are the wise peacemongers? It doesn't even have to be political, it can just be the Buddha's teaching.
There is a lot of anger about in the world now. 🙏
Every ideology when becomes involved in games of power gets twisted and corrupted and religions when dealing with faith, deep sentiments, meaning of the world and reverence to the masters can elevate it even more.
For me the problem with the buddhism in Sri Lanka isn't in buddhism, but the nationalism, tribalism and dogmatism that have became intertwined with it, if we read the Buddah there's really no excuse for such barbarism and even for nationalism. The history of Zen and nationalism in Japan is also pretty bloody, with even temples raging wars on each other. Can you imagine it? I guess they distorted emptiness to justify anything. The idea of bad karma was also used to justify exclusion of some groups in some buddhist countries (even Japan) wich is kind of a retake on the karma role in classical hindu society that the Buddah itself was against. Those forms of buddhism aroused as a response to government persecution and where sponsored by the state against the more traditional and "subversive" views.
That's also how Jesus teachings of love the other as oneself, give the other face and don't stone the prostitutes can become burn the witches, torture the sinners, kill the infidels, beat the homossexuals and support brutal slavory and racism. Of course there are bloody passages in the Bible, but if we look at Jesus words, that are supposedly God most direct words, he's clearly trying to reinterpret the Old Testment ideas to bring a more compassive religion. Even humanism and secularism has had it bloody past of religion persecution. And some of the most brutal regimes in history were atheistic ideologies that became basically political religions.
Some of the most important teachings of the Buddah are non violence, skepticism and not clinging to views or labels, humility and loving-kindness to everyone, as long as we keep those in mind that will be pretty hard for us to perpetuate such acts of violence, we need to stress those teachings with or without buddhist contexts.
Exactly so Gabriel. Well said. 🙏
had not monks in SriLanka involved in politics Theravada Buddhism and all the knowledge and texts have already been wiped out from the world already.if so you wouldn't know any of these teachings of Buddhism. so stop demonizing involvement of monks in politics. you can be like u say in utopia but not in real world.
@@metalbelt1 And since when I demonized monks involved in politics?
Buddhism is not only for the truth but also fairness and justice as well.In Burma the problem is not by the Buddhist.Buddhist do not invade proselytize use power cheating buying with incentive .The other religion are the one doing all sorts in Burma.The ethnic leader the vice president use the government fund for his religion.The other religion make bad reputation on the monks.They give the incentive to get PR on other countries.The other religion married Buddhist girl and coerced. They are unfair and invading insulting.Secular Buddhist as well as monastics have duty to defend and protect .Right for self defence is fair and justice.Confidence in Buddha or Buddhism is important as well in life.Buddha always have boundaries limit level and degree.Buddhism is not pragmatic or dogmatic or commandment.Buddhism is investigative analytical critical.Buddhism always use criteria.Buddhist criteria depend on the boundary limit level degrees.So long ad we are in the criteria we are fair justice.There is a sutra about a nun who killed her husband who tried to kill her .Later she become a nun and attain Nibbana.The right defence must be in the criteria no revenge no intention to kill no premeditated.For example in London terrorist is trying to stab you what will you do?Will you let him stab you because you are Buddhist?.The government need five pillars they are communities buorocracy religion educational system and media.Monks and nuns are part of community.They should not foolhardy sitting and do nothing.
Thanks for your thoughts su waddi.
I agree with everything that you said in this video, but I would just like to add that not all religions are equal. A situation like what's going on in Myanmar with Buddhists killing Muslims is extremely rare. Sharia law and Islam being involved in politics is extremely common in Islamic countries and it's starting to spread to the west as well. I'm a big fan of Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sam Harris. Both of them have spoken out about this issue plenty of times.
Thanks for your comment, Afanasi. Buddhism is rare in having foundational texts that are entirely pacifist. That said, all religions have good and bad people in them, doing good and bad things.