Transcript Ven K Rathanasara`s SVCM1 - Lesson 3

2013 Sutta Vibhanga Course
Lesson Three:
Happiness through Social Integrity
Conducted by Ven. K. Rathanasara
Organized by
1
Social Integrity
2
Misconception
3
E. J. Thomas says…
Buddhism appear first in history as an ascetic
movement. It was one of a number of sects,
bodies of mendicants who had ‘gone forth from a
house to a homeless state and who had cut
themselves off from the hindrances of worldly ties
and pleasures in the pursuit of their ideal.’
History of Buddhist Thought – Pg 13
4
Is Buddhism Asocial Philosophy?
Buddhist path does not encourage running
away from society.
Renunciation is not at all to be seen as
escapism but only as a sacrifice in order to
attain higher capabilities to return to people
to be fully committed to their service.
5
Buddha practiced seclusion only
until he attained supreme Enlightenment.
Buddha once said….
“I, udāyi; sometimes, stay crowded by monks
and nuns, lay disciples; both men and women,
by kings and chief ministers, by leaders and
disciples of other sects.”
M.N.
6
Before dispatching first 60 Enlightened Monks
in different direction to Propagate the Dhamma,
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Buddha said….
Carata bhikkhave cārikaṃ bahujana hitāya
Bhujana sukāya lokānukampāya…
Go forth, o monks, for the good of the many,
for the happiness of the many, out of
compassion for the world…
Mahā Vagga Pāli
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Buddhist Social Philosophy
1. Diṭṭhadhamma Sukhahita
For the Well-being and Happiness of Present
Life - economic prosperity, righteous
governments, social justice, harmonious living…
2. Samparāika Sukhahita
For the Well-being and happiness of Future
Life – avoid evil and do merits
3. Paramatta Sukhahita
Achieving ultimate welfare and perfect
Happiness, Nibbāna – morality, metal cultivation
and wisdom
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Buddha says…..
Attahitāya ca
Parahitāya ca
Paṭipanno
The best of individuals is one
who lives for his own good and as
well as for the good of others.
10
Buddhism aim at promoting social
values like…
Love (mettā)
Compassion (karunā)
Appreciative Joy (muditā)
Equanimity (upekkhā)
..in order to create conditions for
positive and healthy interpersonal
relations.
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Sigālaka Worships 6 directions
Zenith
ASCETICS
East
PARENTS
North
FRIENDS
West
SPOUSE
South
TEACHERS
Nadir
WORKERS
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Teachers and Students
Buddhist Educational Philosophy
1. Theoretical understanding – Pariyatti
2. Practice – Paṭipatti
3. Realization - Paṭiveda
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Buddha says in Mahā Maṅgala Sutta
Bāhusaccañca sippañca
Vinayo ca susikkhito,
Subhāsitā ca yā vācā
Etaṃ maṅgala muttamaṃ.
Academic learning, vocational training,
well-trained and disciplined, and
pleasant speech.
This is the Highest Blessing.
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Duties of a Student towards a Teacher…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By rising to greet them
By waiting on them
By being attentive
By serving them
By mastering the skills they teach
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Duties of a Teacher towards a Student:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Give thorough instruction
Make sure they have grasped what was taught.
Give them a thorough grounding in all skills
Recommend them to their friends and colleagues
Provide them with security in all directions
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Friends and Companions
Once Ven. Ānanda said to the Buddha…
“This is half of the holy life, Lord –
admirable friendship, admirable
companionship, admirable comaraderie.”
“Don’t say that, Ānanda. Don’t say that,
Ānanda. Admirable friendship, admirable
companionship, admirable comaraderie is
actually the whole of the Holy Life.”
S.N. 45.2
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Buddha says…
Yam yam janapadaṃ yāti
Nigame Rājadhāniyo
Sabbatta Pūjito hoti
Yo mittānaṃ na dubhati
Whatever country, market towns or
royal city he visits, everywhere he is
honoured, who does not deceive
friends.
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Duties of a Friend towards Companions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By gifts
By kindly words
By looking after their welfare
By treating them like himself
By keeping his word
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Duties of a Companion towards Friends:
1. By looking after him when he is inattentive
2. By looking after his property when he is
inattentive
3. By being a refuge when he is afraid
4. By not deserting him when he is in trouble
5. By showing concern for his children
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Employers and Employees
1. Human Rights are given priority.
2. Slavery is shunned and it is against Buddhist
Economic Policy. (Satta Vanijjā)
3. Overall benefit of both employers and
employees is taken into consideration.
4. Condition for strike is diminished and working
Satisfaction is increased.
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Duties of an Employer towards an Employee:
1. By arranging their work according to their
strength
2. By supplying them with food and wages
3. By looking after them when they are ill
4. By sharing special delicacies with them
5. By letting them off work at the right time
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Duties of an Employee towards an Employer:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Get up before him
Go to bed after him
Take only what they are given
Do their work properly
Be bearers of his praise and good repute
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Monks and Devotees
Buddha says…
“ Home dwellers and the homeless, both alike ,
dependent on each other, come to win the True
Dhamma, a state of security….
Win the Bliss they Seek.”
Itivuttaka
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Duties of a Layperson towards Monks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By kindness in bodily deed
By kindness in speech
By kindness in thought
By keeping open house for them
By supplying their bodily needs
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Duties of a Monk towards a Lay people:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
They will restrain him from evil
They encourage him to do good
They be benevolently compassionate toward him
They teach him what he has not heard
They point out to him the way to heaven
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Mrs Rhys Devid says…
“…so sane and wide is the wisdom that envisages
them, that the utterances are as fresh and
practically as binding today and here as they were
then at Rājagaha.
Happy would have been the village or the clan on
the banks of the Ganges, where the people were full
of the kindly spirit of fellow feeling, the noble spirit
of justice which breathes through those naïve and
simple sayings.”
Introduction to Sigālovadā Sutta in dialogues of the Buddha II
Pg. 77, 88
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highlights
1. The absolute Goal of all buddhists is nothing
short of attaining Nibbāna one day. But, there
are other interim goals for lay people who are not
ready to realize Nibbāna in this life itself.
Buddha has given enough teachings for their
economic, political, educational, cultural and
social developments as well as for the happiness
of both Present and Future lives.
So it is misinterpreting to say that Buddhism is
asocial religion.
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highlights
2. Buddhist monks practice seclusion until they
attain Enlightenment and thus they return
back to society to work for the Well-being
and Happiness of many.
Arahants are NOT selfish.
3. The Best of the inividuals is one who lives for
his own good and for the good of others.
29
highlights
4. In Sigālovāda Sutta, Buddha included what
others might call rights within the scope of
duties.
This makes any dispute regarding rights
unnecessary.
5. Buddhist Social Philosophy aims at
promoting social values like Love,
Compassion, Appreciative Joy and
Equanimity in order to create conditions for
Joyful, Pleasant and Healthy interpersonal
relations.
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Let’s Share the Dhamma
By Asking Questions
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