Peacemaking in Buddhism
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Peacemaking in Buddhism
The Buddhist vision of peace is part of a holistic outlook in which they believe everything in the universe is interconnected. This is a relational view of life. They believe there should be harmony among all the parts of the universe. The universe is imagined as a network of jewels, an interconnected web of nodes which reflect all of the other nodes in the web. This is called ”Indra’s Net” in the Avatamsaka Sutra. Each node contains a web-like universe within itself. In this vast, endless cosmos everything is interrelated.
Indra’s Net
Indra’s Net
The Buddhist world of interconnected peace means everyone must strive for peace. That means a personal effort for inner peace will eventually mean the whole world will be in peace. Peacemaking is, therefore, an individual and a common responsibility mandated by the interdependent nature of our existence.
Buddhist beliefs and practices which will lead to peace
1. 4 Noble Truths – Revolve around suffering being caused by greed, egotism, and ignorance
2. 8-fold Path to Nirvana – decent thoughts, words, actions, love, compassion, joy and serenity in daily life, the right career, eliminate distractions, eliminate desires, and learn yoga and meditation
3. 4 basic mental states – loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity. Through these 4 altruistic states, combined with wisdom, a Buddhist can reach the “middle way” and live in harmony with the universe.
Mind is the forerunner and basis of all other states. If one thinks, speaks, and acts with a pure mind, happiness follows. We must create a state of mind for good, not evil. Global peace will start at the grassroots with peace education, seminars, workshops, meditation walks, and programs for the poor.
Principles for Buddhist communities
1. Meet regularly 2. Meet in peace, discuss in peace, disperse in peace 3. Make consensus decisions in unanimity 4. Give priority to safety and protection of children 5. Respect all religions 6. Obey laws and do not introduce laws that can’t
be enforced 7. Celebrate festivals and participate in peace
marches and meditation walks
Stone images of Buddha in Cambodia
Image of Buddha in Japan
Image of Buddha in Sri Lanka
Stone carving of Asoka, a convert to Buddhism
A sandstone pillar of Asoka carved with events in Buddha’s life and marking routes to Buddhist holy shrines
Buddhist Caves of Longmen China
The influence of Buddhism is evident in the carved and painted caves of Longmen (also called Lung-men Caves) in Henan Province near the city of Luoyang. More than 1,300 caves here contain nearly 100,000 stone statues of Buddha and 3,600 inscribed stone tablets dating from the 5th to the 7th century. Among the great remaining masterpieces of Buddhist culture, the contents of these caves provide a wealth of information about Buddhism.
Buddhist Kung Fu in China
• Shaolin Buddhist Monastery built in a forest on a sacred mountain near the city of Zhengzhou in 464 AD
• Kung Fu master Bantuo from India introduced kung Fu and Buddhist monks became skilled
• Buddhism was supposed to be nonviolent, but kung Fu was a self-‐ defense system
• China became an early center of marGal arts
Chinese, even today, value marGal arts as a way to achieve a balance between body and emoGons. Performance and style is an outward expression which must be in balance with the inner spirituality of Kung Fu achieved through meditaGon. In 1981 the movie Shaolin Temple with Jet Lee was a blockbuster which renewed interest in marGal arts and caused young men to flock to the temple prompGng a rebirth of the temple in modern Gmes.
Kwan Yin
Buddhist goddess of love and mercy
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