What
Buddhists Believe
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
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Chapter 15 -
War And Peace
Why is
there no Peace?
Man has forgotten that he has a
heart. He forgets that if he treats the world kindly, the world will
treat him kindly in return.
We
are living in a world of really amazing contradictions. On the one hand,
people are afraid of war; on the other hand, they prepare for it with
frenzy. They produce in abundance, but they distribute miserly. The world
becomes more and more crowded, but man becomes increasingly isolated and
lonely. Men are living close to each other as in a big family, but each
individual finds himself more than ever before, separated from his
neighbor. Mutual understanding and sincerity are lacking very badly. One
man cannot trust another, however good the latter may be.
When the United Nations
was formed after the horrors of the Second World War, the heads of Nations
who gathered to sign the charter agreed that it should begin with the
following preamble: 'Since it is in the minds of men
that wars begin, it is in the minds of men the ramparts of peace should be
erected.'This very same sentiment is echoed in the first verse of the Dhammapada
which states: 'All [mental]states have mind as their forerunner, mind is
their chief, and they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts, with a defiled
mind, suffering follows one even as the wheel follows the hoof of the
draught-ox.'
The belief that the only
way to fight force is by applying more force has led to the arms race
between the great powers. And this competition to increase the weapons of
war has brought mankind to the very brink of total self-destruction. If we
do nothing about it, the next war will be the end of the world where there
will be neither victors nor victims -- only dead
bodies.
'Hatred does not
cease by hatred; by love alone does it cease.' Such is the Buddha's advice
to those who preach the doctrine of antagonism and ill-will, and who set
men to war and rebellion against one another. Many people say that the
Buddha's advice to return good for evil is impracticable. Actually, it is
the only correct method to solve any problem. This method was introduced
by the great Teacher from His own experience. Because we are proud and
egoistic, we are reluctant to return good for evil, thinking that the
public may treat us as cowardly people. Some people even think that
kindness and gentleness are effeminate, not 'macho'! But what harm is
there if we settle our problems and bring peace and happiness by adopting
this cultured method and by sacrificing our dangerous pride?
Tolerance must be
practised if peace is to come to this earth. Force and compulsion will
only create intolerance. To establish peace and harmony among mankind,
each and everyone must first learn to practise the ways leading to the
extinction of hatred, greed and delusion, the roots of all evil forces. If
mankind can eradicate these evil forces, tolerance and peace will come to
this restless world.
Today the
follows of the most compassionate Buddha have a special duty to work for
the establishment of peace in the world and to show an example to others
by following their Master's advice: 'All tremble at punishment, all fear
death; comparing others with oneself, one should neither kill nor cause to
kill.' (Dhammapada 129)
Peace is always
obtainable. But the way to peace is not only through prayers and rituals.
Peace is the result of man's harmony with his fellow beings and with his
environment. The peace that we try to introduce by force is not a lasting
peace. It is an interval in between the conflict of selfish desire and
worldly conditions.
Peace cannot
exits on this earth without the practice of tolerance. To be tolerant, we
must not allow anger and jealousy to prevail in our mind. The Buddha
says,'No enemy can harm one so much as one's own thoughts of craving, hate
and jealousy.' (Dhammapada 42)
Buddhism is a religion of
tolerance because it preaches a life of self-restraint. Buddhism teaches a
life based not on rules but on principles. Buddhism has never persecuted
or maltreated those whose beliefs are different. The Teaching is such that
it is not necessary for anyone to label himself as a Buddhist to practise
the Noble Principles of this religion.
The world is like a mirror
and if you look at the mirror with a smiling face, you can see your own,
beautiful smiling face. On the other hand, if you look at it with a long
face, you will invariably see ugliness. Similarly, if you treat the world
kindly the worldly will also certainly treat you kindly. Learn to be
peaceful with yourself and the world will also be peaceful with you.
Man's mind is given
to so much self-deceit that he does not want to admit his own weakness. He
will try to find some excuse to justify his action and to create an
illusion that he is blameless. If a man really wants to be free, he must
have the courage to admit his own weakness. The Buddha says:
'Easily seen are other's
faults; hard indeed it is to see one's own faults.'
-ooOoo-
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Source: Buddhist
Study and Practice Group, http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/
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Update : 01-11-2002