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