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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Human rights through Metta sutta



Contents

·        Introduction
·        The loving-kindness discourse (Karaniya metta sutta)
·        The better Human rights through the Karaniya metta sutta
·        Compare the modern Human rights and Metta Sutta
·        My personal views on Human rights through Metta Sutta
·        Conclusion
·        Bibliography







Introduction
                 This is an assignment on the subject of Buddhism and Human rights on the topic of Human rights through Metta Sutta. In this assignment, I would like to talk about the connection between Metta Sutta and Human rights.
                                 As human beings, we have achieved a level of material progress we would not have even dreamed of barely a century ago. The marvels of modern technology have given us enormous power over the forces of nature. We have conquered many disasters but the ultimate question is 'Are we happier than our ancestors were in the past?' The answer is 'No’. The abuse of women, children and the underprivileged religious and racial discrimination, color bar, and caste distinction continue unabated.
                                As the results of those criminals, activities the power people establish organize like Human rights organization. These modern human rights are also sold to the money as well as power therefore many innocent people have to be get trouble in the society. This assignment will be the best effort to clarify that the Buddhism is the best Human rights than modern human rights.

                               Therefor here l would like to pay your attention Optimistic (Positive)   thoughts to protect Human rights through Metta Sutta.



The loving-kindness discourse (Karaniya metta sutta)

                               Everybody knows about the Loving-kindness discourses but most of them do not knows where it exists in Tipitaka. Therefore I hope to give small introduction about the Sutta as same as the existence place in Tipitaka.
                             Karaniya Metta Sutta comes in under the Sutta Pitaka,Khuddaka Nikaya,Sutta Nipata,Uraga vagga in eight Sutta called Karaniya Metta Sutta. The sutta has preached by the Buddha for the meditation monks who are afraid from different sounds in Jungle. Buddha gave advice to cultivate loving-kindness to all beings. Buddha has told that through the loving-kindness all their fears will disappear.  The Sutta start with these verses
“Karaṇīyamatthakusalena, yanta santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca;
Sakko ujū ca suhujū ca, sūvaco cassa mudu anatimānī...”[1]

Therefore, Karaniya Metta Sutta is most significance to the society as the human rights.



The better Human rights through the Karaniya metta sutta
                                   Before to the direct discussion about the Karaniya Metta Sutta with the Human rights I hope to describe about the modern human rights. Human rights can be defined as the following statements.
       I.            The rights you have simply because you are human.
    II.            A person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being

                                        The Metta Sutta is the best Human rights rather than modern Human rights because it discusses the rights to live in peaceful life as well as the methods of peace. Those loving-kindness is not only for the human beings but also all the beings in the universal. Then let we discuss one by one about the qualities of human right in Karaniya Metta Sutta.

                                          The first points, which I wanted to discuss, are the quality of “Santussako ca subharo ca”     this two term can be translated as Contented and easy to support. People must Contented for food, cloth, home, medicine. Buddha has preached us that accordance to the Yatha Labha, Yatha Bala,Yatha Sarupppa these qualities. Yatha labha which means the wealth that we get, the second is yatha Bala the wealth that we can get, and the last one yatha Saruppa the wealth that suits to us. We have to be happy with this wealth. If anyone can cultivate these qualities then there we can find the human rights are well protected.
                                             The second term is easy to support which Buddhism teach that be not to be attached person.

Atitam Nanu socanti Nappa jappanti Nagata
Paccuppannena Yapenti Tena me samana Piya[2]
Next point which I expectation to deliberate is “Santindriyo.” The Dhammapada has mention one stanza about the quality of “Santindriyo.”
Kayena samvaro Sadhu ,Sadhu Vacaya samvaro
Manasa samvaro Sadhu ,Sadhu sabbatha Samvaro[3]
                                     If I controlled through six faculties, I will not harm to others in the society. At that situation, we can see the human rights are well protected. As same as these Sutta mention many qualities which helps to protects the Human rights in the society better than modern human rights. Those qualities are “Kulesvananugiddho..
Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthi, tasā vā thāvarā vanavasesā;
Dīghā vā ye va mahantā majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā.
Diṭṭhā vā ye va adiṭṭhā, ye va dūre vasanti avidūre;
Bhūtā va sambhavesī va, sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.[4]
                                       If someone following these facts, there will be no conflict in the society. Therefore, Karaniya Metta Sutta is better human rights for the current world.


Compare the modern Human rights and Metta Sutta
                                      While the modern Human rights talks about human being, Buddhism (Metta Sutta) Discuss about all beings in the universal.
Diṭṭhā vā ye va adiṭṭhā, ye va dūre vasanti avidūre;
Bhūtā va sambhavesī va, sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā
Human rights are limited but Buddhism is unlimited.
Mettañca sabbalokasmi, mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ;
Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca, asambādhaṃ averamasapattaṃ.[5]
Therefore, Buddhist human rights become the golden rights to the world.

My personal views on Human rights through Metta Sutta
                                            The purpose of Human rights is to create peacefulness society as well as equality of live everyone in the society. Buddhism also discuss about the peace but more advanced rather than modern Human beings. All beings are livings in the universal therefore; they also have rights to live in their society. Accordance to modern Human rights do not discuss about all beings. Metta Sutta discuss about equality rights to all beings without any discrimination or division.
                                              Generate loving kindness towards each person and the wish for him or her to be happy.  This can help transform negative emotions such as anger or jealousy.

Conclusion

                                          As a conclusion, I would like to mention that although the world Human rights association discuss about the rights of human for benefits of people. I personally believe with agreeing Metta Sutta that other beings also have rights to live in the world as well as we must protect equal rights for not only human beings but also all beings.
                                       Therefore the Metta Sutta is the best example from Buddhism that the Buddhism is the best Human rights rather than modern Human rights.
Bhūtā va sambhavesī va, sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.[6]







Bibliography

  Primary Resource 

·        Karanīya Metta Sutta, sutta Nipāta Sn 1.8 PTS: 143-152

 Secondary Resource

·        Excerpted from "Loving-kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness" by Sharon Salzberg, 1995, Shambala Publications.





[1] Karaniya Metta Sutta of Sutta Nipata
[2] Thera gatha pali from Khuddaka Nikaya
[3] Dhammapada
[4] Karaniya Metta Sutta of Sutta Nipata
[5] Karaniya Metta Sutta of Sutta Nipata
[6] Karaniya Metta Sutta of Sutta Nipata

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