Transcript Buddhism and Peacex

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word
that brings peace - Buddha
Leo R. Sandy
 Buddhism has a following of about 300 million people
around the world. The origin of the name is from
'budhi', 'to awaken'. It had its beginnings 2,500 years
ago when Siddhartha Gotama, the Buddha, was
awakened or enlightened at the age of 35
 Gotama was from a royal family in Lumbini, now
located in Nepal, in 563 BC. At 29, he became aware
that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, so
he studied religion and philosophy for several years
until he became enlightened
 Up to the age of 80, at which time he died, he taught
the precepts of Buddhism called the Dhamma or Truth
(A basic Buddhism guide)
 Buddhism is concerned with the psychological and
spiritual growth of men and women from their present
level of development to their flowering as true human
beings and –even beyond that – to yet higher levels of
being” (Gordon & Grob, 1987, p. 116). It focuses on
compassion and the connection of all things to each
other. It stresses nonviolence, personal enlightenment,
meditation, loving kindness, vegetarianism, and social
responsibility
 Buddhism “teaches that we are the author of our own
future, both as individuals and as creative members of
society. It is thus within our power to create the world
in which we live. It can be a world at peace or a world
in ruins. The choice is ours...(It also) teaches that small
changes lead to bigger changes” (Gordon & Grob, 1978,
p. 122)
 Traditionally, Buddhism has been a very contemplative
and mindful religion where monks would be cloistered
and have little contact with the outside world
 A new movement within Buddhism called engaged
Buddhism, inspired by Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat
Hanh (Barash, 2010), requires that monks be a part
of their communities by serving them and
engaging in efforts to promote world peace and
social justice (This movement is akin to a Catholic
initiative called liberation theology developed to
resist oppression in Central America in the 1970s. )
 The basic requirements of traditional Buddhism are
not to do any evil, to cultivate good, and to purify one's
mind. The five precepts of Buddhism include the
following:
 Do not kill (people or animals)
 Do not steal
 Do not indulge in sexual misconduct
 Do not make false speech
 Do not take intoxicants (alcohol & drugs)
 There are ten Meritorious Deeds that allow people
to gain a happy and peaceful life as well as to
develop knowledge and understanding. They are as
follows:
 Charity
 Morality / Taking Precepts
 Mental cultivation / Meditation
 Reverence or respect
 Services in helping others
 Transference of merits
 Rejoicing in the merits of others
 Preaching and teaching Dharma
 Listening to the Dharma
 Straightening one's own views (Leading a Buddhist life)
 Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without -
Buddha
 To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s
family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline
and control one’s mind. If a man can control his mind,
he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom
and virtue will naturally come to him - Buddha
 No one can find inner peace except by working, not in
a self-centered way, but for the whole human family Buddha
 Buddhist peace and social justice groups include the
following:
 International Buddhist Peace Organization:
http://www.ibpeace.org/
 The Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF):
http://fore.yale.edu/religion/buddhism/projects/buddhist_p
eace/
 Soka Gakkai International: http://www.sgi-usa.org/
 The Dalai Lama Talks about Compassion and Respect
Dalai Lama Talks about Compassion and Repect:
Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20MnLcOL7Ks
Gordon, H., & Grob, L. (1987). Education for
peace.
Sedona, AZ: LTS Press
Perkins, R., Sandy, L., & Green, A. (ND). PeaceTalk,
Unpublished manuscript