This would allow the villagers to be free to conduct their day to day affairs without being disturbed by the monks requiring food. Today, of course, people bring food to the monasteries or prepare it on the premises so the original reason no longer applies.
As many of you would be aware, in some Theravadin countries, the monks still go on their early morning alms round, but this is more a matter of maintaining a tradition than out of necessity. Also, a rule prohibiting the handling of gold and silver, in other words - money, is considered by the Mahayana Sangha a handicap were it to be observed strictly in today's world. They interpret this rule as avoiding the accumulation of riches which leads to greed. Theravadin monks tend to split hairs on this rule as, although most will not touch coins, many carry credit cards and cheque books.
Let me now deal briefly with the Buddhist attitude to violence, war and peace. The Buddha said in the Dhammapada:. The defeated live in pain. Happily the peaceful live giving up victory and defeat.
This is an eternal law. The first precept refers to the training to abstain from harming living beings. Although history records conflicts involving the so-called Buddhist nations, these wars have been fought for economic or similar reasons. However, history does not record wars fought in the name of propagating Buddhism. Buddhism and, perhaps, Jainism are unique in this regard.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has never suggested armed conflict to overcome the persecution and cruelty perpetrated by the Communist Chinese occupation forces. He has always advocated a peaceful and non-violent solution. Venerable Maha Ghosananda, the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia has urged Cambodians to put aside their anger for the genocide of the Khmer Rouge and to unify to re-establish their nation.
He has written:. The suffering of Cambodia has been deep. From this suffering comes great compassion. Great compassion makes a peaceful heart.
A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes a peaceful community. A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation. A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world.
Going back to the early history of Buddhism, Emperor Asoka, who, after a bloody but successful military campaign, ruled over more than two thirds of the Indian subcontinent, suffered great remorse for the suffering that he had caused, banned the killing of animals and exhorted his subjects to lead kind and tolerant lives. He also promoted tolerance towards all religions which he supported financially. The prevalent religions of that time were the sramanas or wandering ascetics, Brahmins, Ajivakas and Jains.
He recommended that all religions desist from self praise and condemnation of others. His pronouncements were written on rocks at the periphery of his kingdom and on pillars along the main roads and where pilgrims gathered. He also established many hospitals for both humans and animals. Some of his important rock edicts stated:. Asoka ordered that banyan trees and mango groves be planted, rest houses built and wells dug every half mile along the main roads.
He ordered the end to killing of any animal for use in the royal kitchens. He ordered the provision of medical facilities for humans and beasts. He commanded obedience to parents, generosity to priests and ascetics and frugality in spending.
All officers must work for the welfare of the poor and the aged. He recorded his intention to promote the welfare of all beings in order to repay his debt to all beings. He honours men of all faiths. Not all Buddhists follow the non-violent path, however. He said that it was not a breech of the first precept to kill communists. He said that if Thailand were in danger of a communist takeover, he would take up arms to protect Buddhism. Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai peace activist, reports in his book, "Seeds of Peace" that Phra Kittiwutthi has since modified his stance by declaring "to kill communism or communist ideology is not a sin".
Sulak adds that the monk confessed that his nationalist feelings were more important than his Buddhist practice and that he would be willing to abandon his yellow robes to take up arms against communist invaders from Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam. By doing so, he said, he would be preserving the monarchy, the nation and the Buddhist religion. In contrast to the views of Phra Kittiwutthi, Sulak Sivaraksa reports that the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh is of the view that 'preserving Buddhism does not mean that we should sacrifice people's lives in order to safeguard the Buddhist hierarchy, monasteries or rituals.
The Five Precepts are the Buddhist version of a code of conduct or rules to help people behave in a moral and ethical way. Buddhists should follow the Five Precepts to ensure they are living a morally good life. This helps them to get rid of suffering and achieve enlightenment.
The five precepts are as follows:. It is important to practise the precepts over time as they are not always easy to carry out. The main aim of a Buddhist is get rid of suffering, and therefore following the Five Precepts is important as they help Buddhists to avoid causing others to suffer. Following the Five Precepts is linked to kamma , as these count as skilful actions, which produce good consequences. The Five Precepts The Five Precepts are the Buddhist version of a code of conduct or rules to help people behave in a moral and ethical way.
Am I a heretic for maintaining a social tradition that does not really cloud my mind? The answers all depend upon who you talk to. More liberal forms of Buddhism say no problem, conversely, Thai Buddhism says just: No! This is a fascinating debate. The debate is so interesting that I actually struggled to think of how to close out this article. The goal is to eventually have a mind that is completely unclouded, as well as to have a sense of empathy for every living thing, great or small.
If you do not have an account please register below by simply entering a username, password and email address. You can still leave your comment below at the same time. Have a news tip-off? Click here. If arrivals have to be bused to a hospital for testing, or an offsite testing centre - that will tak Read More.
ED-Looks like the proof readers are taking To some of us it is obvious they mean from 11th Nov since they mention that date specifically.. Because it places undue pressure on airline staff who then have to determine whether vaccination cer What's missing from this bulletin is WHEN to expect this weather. And I believe the term 'sa Do u want more tourists?
So stop this big mess, just ask pcr test before flight and you will have Teenage tempers, face, and two lives wasted. Local thugs all over the island are well known to the Well we always knew the taxi mob and beach people ran Patong- now its out in the open.
Nothing menti Login Create Account. All About Buddhism: Thou shalt not bend the rules. Lines can get blurred on the prohibition of intoxicants. The last great rule is the one of interest to us today. In fact, I was able to quaff a lot more until I cut it to one, which for me is essentially none. The three treasures and the five precepts are navigated by chanting and meditation. Comments Here:. I agree to Comment Policy.
0コメント