Hi Folks !
How are you and how's life ?!
I'm doing great !
Studying some really interesting subjects, reading some seriously researched books and coming across ideas which are novel to me, seem ancient and quaint but seem to work perfectly well in this age and time.
Let me tell you something really boggling.
I'm doing my Masters in Pali language, have my chosen subjects for each term but we are allowed to attend any other class we wish to.
I've been attending Buddhist Ethics lectures off and on and found their concept interesting. To them, the Pali Canon is supreme as there are clear answers given by the Buddha himself.
So Buddhist Ethics which is based on the precepts, the eight - fold path and Dependent Origination (Google this for now until I get back in a future post !) does not detract from its timeless character. It is rooted in Natural Law.
Buddhism is a religion, right ?
It is practiced by millions from Buddhist countries, and by people of many countries around the world, some rich, some poor.
People are the same the world over - or so I had thought until I started to live with the Buddhists on a long-term basis.
They are always gentle to each-other, soft spoken and there doesn't seem to be strife, anger, drunken brawls, loudness in any form, a sense of competition or conceit among relatives or friends or neighbours.
They have imbibed the five precepts of not hurting, not stealing and so on and the positive results are that they are kind, compassionate, have no envy, laugh a lot, have fun, do not gossip endlessly and respect the monks/nuns and elders immensely.
Still, I thought, there had to be something else, the most important clue to their docile and always-so-nice behaviour.
And then it fell like a ton of bricks, when I least expected it.
That day's topic in the class was 'Human Rights and Buddhist Ethics'.
The Venerable monk's first sentence stunned me into speechlessness (which doesn't happen often).
'The term Human Rights', he said, 'is a Western tradition, a Western view. It is not there in Pali Canon, so there are no Human Rights in Buddhism!'
Oh my God, I thought, how can this be ?!
What do the scholars have to say about this ?!
Do they know ?!!!
What would Obelix say ?!
These Buddhists - they are crazy !!!!!
No human rights ?
'Buddhists,' the Venerable Monk continued, 'only have human duties. Duties of monks and nuns to lay people, men's duties, women's duties - everybody has duties. Parents, children, the government, people - all, towards each other.
When human duties are not performed properly, human rights come in. Conflict comes in. Language, culture, tradition are human rights where understanding is important. There should be dialogue and negotiation. If there is anger, one should just go away until it is reduced. One should have compassion for others.
There is no caste system in Buddhism so there is no internal conflict among sects - there are no sects.
Relationship with fellow-beings is expected to be humane, understanding the fundamental nature of humans. Everybody has rights embodying life, liberty, security and property. There is freedom of thought and expression - you can criticize the Buddha too'.
The Buddhists consider the three main factors of human conflict to be Lobha (greed), Dosa (hatred) and Moha (delusion).
Greed about material things, pleasures, property, territory, wealth, economic dominance and political superiority.
Hatred by focussing on particular matters leading to dividing people as liked/disliked and so on.
Delusion about 'my' country/community/religion and gender.
So this is the essence, the cause and effect.
Duties make one responsible, sensible, pragmatic, compassionate.
Rights create divisions, imbalance, friction, unhappiness, rivalry.
The Buddha's basic teachings help us to understand our own humane nature which we have forgotten and lost below layers of greed, hatred and delusion.
Once followed with understanding, the Buddha's teachings give huge benefits of calmness and serenity here and now.
So, this has been my enlightenment !
Now think this over.
Just for a change, actively dwell on your duties as a son, father, brother, husband, boss, friend, citizen -
As a daughter, mother, sister, wife, employee, friend, citizen -
It will calm the unconscious aggressiveness and walls of fear built around to protect you.
It's not needed.
Stay with your duties one day at a time, don't make it into a burden of 'poor me!!!'
Give others time to adjust to this new you.
You will be happy, contented first, and then make others too happy and contented.
Have a serene time and see you in a few weeks !
:-)))
How are you and how's life ?!
I'm doing great !
Studying some really interesting subjects, reading some seriously researched books and coming across ideas which are novel to me, seem ancient and quaint but seem to work perfectly well in this age and time.
Let me tell you something really boggling.
I'm doing my Masters in Pali language, have my chosen subjects for each term but we are allowed to attend any other class we wish to.
I've been attending Buddhist Ethics lectures off and on and found their concept interesting. To them, the Pali Canon is supreme as there are clear answers given by the Buddha himself.
So Buddhist Ethics which is based on the precepts, the eight - fold path and Dependent Origination (Google this for now until I get back in a future post !) does not detract from its timeless character. It is rooted in Natural Law.
Buddhism is a religion, right ?
It is practiced by millions from Buddhist countries, and by people of many countries around the world, some rich, some poor.
People are the same the world over - or so I had thought until I started to live with the Buddhists on a long-term basis.
They are always gentle to each-other, soft spoken and there doesn't seem to be strife, anger, drunken brawls, loudness in any form, a sense of competition or conceit among relatives or friends or neighbours.
They have imbibed the five precepts of not hurting, not stealing and so on and the positive results are that they are kind, compassionate, have no envy, laugh a lot, have fun, do not gossip endlessly and respect the monks/nuns and elders immensely.
Still, I thought, there had to be something else, the most important clue to their docile and always-so-nice behaviour.
And then it fell like a ton of bricks, when I least expected it.
That day's topic in the class was 'Human Rights and Buddhist Ethics'.
The Venerable monk's first sentence stunned me into speechlessness (which doesn't happen often).
'The term Human Rights', he said, 'is a Western tradition, a Western view. It is not there in Pali Canon, so there are no Human Rights in Buddhism!'
Oh my God, I thought, how can this be ?!
What do the scholars have to say about this ?!
Do they know ?!!!
What would Obelix say ?!
These Buddhists - they are crazy !!!!!
No human rights ?
'Buddhists,' the Venerable Monk continued, 'only have human duties. Duties of monks and nuns to lay people, men's duties, women's duties - everybody has duties. Parents, children, the government, people - all, towards each other.
When human duties are not performed properly, human rights come in. Conflict comes in. Language, culture, tradition are human rights where understanding is important. There should be dialogue and negotiation. If there is anger, one should just go away until it is reduced. One should have compassion for others.
There is no caste system in Buddhism so there is no internal conflict among sects - there are no sects.
Relationship with fellow-beings is expected to be humane, understanding the fundamental nature of humans. Everybody has rights embodying life, liberty, security and property. There is freedom of thought and expression - you can criticize the Buddha too'.
The Buddhists consider the three main factors of human conflict to be Lobha (greed), Dosa (hatred) and Moha (delusion).
Greed about material things, pleasures, property, territory, wealth, economic dominance and political superiority.
Hatred by focussing on particular matters leading to dividing people as liked/disliked and so on.
Delusion about 'my' country/community/religion and gender.
So this is the essence, the cause and effect.
Duties make one responsible, sensible, pragmatic, compassionate.
Rights create divisions, imbalance, friction, unhappiness, rivalry.
The Buddha's basic teachings help us to understand our own humane nature which we have forgotten and lost below layers of greed, hatred and delusion.
Once followed with understanding, the Buddha's teachings give huge benefits of calmness and serenity here and now.
So, this has been my enlightenment !
Now think this over.
Just for a change, actively dwell on your duties as a son, father, brother, husband, boss, friend, citizen -
As a daughter, mother, sister, wife, employee, friend, citizen -
It will calm the unconscious aggressiveness and walls of fear built around to protect you.
It's not needed.
Stay with your duties one day at a time, don't make it into a burden of 'poor me!!!'
Give others time to adjust to this new you.
You will be happy, contented first, and then make others too happy and contented.
Have a serene time and see you in a few weeks !
:-)))
1 comment:
Meaningful thoughts about Human Rights & duties. Very much awaking!
And with this thought their must be very less exchange of Negative energies too. Can you please throw some light on energy exchange between them.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Kavita
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