Ahimsa

• Ahimsa


  The principle of non-harm and non-violence to all living things

  • Reflection of respect and sanctity of life
  • Not just a Buddhist concept, but present in other Indian religions
  • Jains take it to the extreme
  • First Buddhist Precept
  • Buddhism encourages peaceful solutions to all situations but is not opposed to self-defense
  • The focus is more on intentional actions.
• Ahimsa

  Seen in many areas of Buddhism as there is no endorsement of violence in the scriptures.

  • 'Right livelihood'- Eightfold path
  • Buddha advised against trades that cause harm eg. butcher or arms trade, selling of intoxication
• Ahimsa and the Three Fires

  The Buddha always encourages a person to be compassionate and cool down their anger.

  Hatred breeds hatred, anger is like a poison to the self because violence is counterproductive.
• Dalai Lama

  Encourages compassion for all living beings so all actions should concern others.

  He teaches that this comes from education, people need to disarm themselves from violent and angry thoughts, and only then is there a chance of world peace.

  If we treat the enemy differently, it may have a positive effect.

  In the modern world, ahimsa is a humanitarian concept of peace.
• Ahimsa in scripture 


  The Story of Angulamala

  In the lotus sutra, the Bodhisattva is an example of peace and compassion. The 3 major principles of the lotus sutra are the:

  • Attainment of enlightenment for all people,
  • The eternal Buddha
  • Practising the Bodhisattva way

  The 3 Fires are the source of all suffering

  The Yodhajiva sutra suggests that a soldier in battle will have a bad rebirth as his intention is to kill, therefore he will gain negative karma.
• Vegetarianism in Buddhism


  It mostly comes down to the individual but there is more of a large calling to vegetarianism in the Mahayana scripture, with some direct condemnation. However, scripture is very different to practice.

  It was not a requirement for the early Sangha and the Buddha did not teach that vegetarianism was a requirement. He emphasised the avoidance of intentional killing.

  For a renunciant, no food should be deferred.

  A layperson has more control over their food, and if they don't eat meat, should not be judgmental of those who do.
• Mahayana Buddhism


  Oppose eating meat more

  • In the Bodhisattva Pratimoka, it says they should avoid meat and meat should not be given to monks.
  • All living beings should be treated as if they were a close relative and should be looked upon with compassion
  • Smell of meat is unpleasant
  • Meateater usually sleeps uneasily
  • Meat eating can lead to a bad rebirth
• Vegetarianism isn't a straightforward decision, Mahayana has more about it in scripture but the actual case is completely different

  • Where one may say 'All Mahayana Buddhists are vegetarians', the same could be said that 'No Xians lie', it just isn't true.
• King Ashoka, in his rock edict, encouraged vegetarianism and limited the number of animals killed for food in his own kitchen.
• Conflict:

  The root of all conflict is the 3 Fires

  • Conflict often comes from attachment to material things
  • False views can lead to conflict along with ego/ self-importance
  • Meditation and reflections of the four Brahma viharas can help with compassionate approaches to conflict.
  • Conflict should be avoided and sought to be resolved by negotiation and diffusing situations.
  • Violence never wins (Story of the Buddha & Cousin)
  • Being a soldier is the wrong livelihood
  • In some Buddhist countries, National Service is required although long-term monks are exempt (eg. Thailand, Doctrine vs. Reality)
• Conflict:

  If violence is the last call of action, or it might benefit a greater number, the intention must always be on saving.

  • We have to transform individuals through the dharma:
  • Peace starts from within
  • War is greed (eg. land), Ignorance, and Hate. The majority of wars stem from the 3 fires, not just religion.
  • Loving-kindness meditation: Meditating on those you may not like.
• Can Buddhists ever Justify going to war?

  In Theravada, there's no scriptural justification for going to war.

  In Mahayana, killing may be accepted as a skill in means, any act of war must be rooted in and motivated by compassion.

  Zen and Rinzai Buddhists teach their monastics a variety of combat skills. Zen can often be known as the way of the warrior.

  • Eg. Shaolin Monks (in the 25th century) were employed by the state to defend the southwestern border from an influx of pirates with their martial arts technique.

  Patience (Kshanti) and deep, compassionate listening (Karuna) stop war.