Q12 Development Debate

Buddhist approach to International Relations

Setting the record straight. Jairus Banaji:

Β How Modi stands Buddha on his head. In his televised broadcast on 11 May, he told viewers: β€œπ΅β„Žπ‘Žπ‘”π‘€π‘Žπ‘› π΅π‘’π‘‘π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ž 𝑛𝑒 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘– π‘˜π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘˜β„Žπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘Ž. π‘†β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘– π‘˜π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘” π‘β„Žπ‘– π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘‘π‘– 𝑠𝑒 β„Žπ‘œπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘—π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘–β€ (Lord Buddha showed us the path of peace. The road to peace lies through power.)Β Β 
Did Buddha ever say or suggest that the road to peace lies through power (which is code for more defence spending and more militarism)? Here is how one Buddhist scholar expounds Buddha’s views:

In relating with other states, hostility and aggression is forbidden and the cultivation of friendliness and neighborliness and mutually beneficial commerce is endorsed, both to conform with the dharma and on grounds of expediency and efficacy, that is, aggression does not serve one’s self-interest in the long run. Buddha counseled, β€œHatred never ceases by hatred in this world. Hatred ceases by loveβ€”this is the ancient law” (π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π·β„Žπ‘Žπ‘šπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž, tr. Easwaran, 2007, p. 105). Β A state could retain its army for defensive purposes but nonviolence is thought to be the higher ideal and Buddha counseled against the resort to war as a means of settling international disputes (Sallie King, β€˜War and Peace in Buddhist Philosophy’, in 𝐴 πΆπ‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π΅π‘’π‘‘π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘ π‘‘ π‘ƒβ„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘œπ‘ π‘œπ‘β„Žπ‘¦, 2013, pp. 631-50). The first ethical principle in Buddhism is to refrain from killing or injuring any sentient being. There is little or no support for β€œjust war” in Buddhism (Michael Jerryson, β€˜Buddhist Traditions and Violence’, in π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ 𝑂π‘₯π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π»π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘œπ‘“ π‘…π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘”π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‰π‘–π‘œπ‘™π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’, 2013, pp. 41-66; Lakshmi Jayasuriya, β€˜Just War Tradition and Buddhism’, πΌπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑆𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠, 46/4 (2009), pp. 423-38). Buddha said that wars only perpetuate future conflict. As noted, he also spoke out against the trading in weapons as β€œwrong livelihood.” (William Long, 𝐴 π΅π‘’π‘‘π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘ π‘‘ π΄π‘π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘Žπ‘β„Ž π‘‘π‘œ πΌπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘…π‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  (2021)Β 

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