RT Article
T1 Two Dimensions of Buddhist Practice and Their Implications on Statecraft
JF Contemporary buddhism
VO 22
IS 1/2
SP 88
OP 101
A1 Tilakaratne, Asanga 1952-
LA English
PB Routledge
YR 2021
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1869889096
AB This article argues that within Buddhism, the ethical principles of those aiming at better rebirths within the round of rebirths (saṃsāra), and those aiming at nirvana, the transcending of this, should be clearly distinguished. The ethics of the nirvana seeker, mostly monks and nuns, has no place for war and violence, while the more worldly concerns of other Buddhists allow some engagement in defensive wars while seeking to minimise suffering, in line with international humanitarian law. It is argued that the lay Buddhist’s emphasis is on avoiding evil (pāpa) and doing what is ‘meritorious’ (puñña), i.e. bringing happy results within this and future lives. ‘Meritorious’ acts are ‘good’ by worldly standards but are not the same as a nirvana-seeker’s ‘skilful’ (kusala) action, which should always be non-violent. This is not to say, however, that a lay Buddhist may not also perform some genuinely skilful actions.
K1 Jātakas
K1 Mahāvaṃsa
K1 akusala
K1 bhikkhu
K1 cakkavatti
K1 dasa rāja-dhammas
K1 king Asoka
K1 kusala
K1 progressive instruction
K1 puñña
K1 pāpa
K1 upāsaka
DO 10.1080/14639947.2022.2038024