Peace in Buddhism

Contents

1.   Introduction

2.   The Basic of the Peace

3.   Introduction to Pāli terms focused concept “peace”

4.   Conclusion

5.   Bibliography

Introduction

                          Buddhism is generally seen as associated with non-violence and peace. In Buddhist training, morality is the start without which one cannot proceed on for further training. More exactly, for lay people, the five precepts, which start with non-killing, are the foundation of Buddhist training, while for monks, the precept of non-killing includes not only human beings and animals but plants as well. Therefore, to answer this main topic I divided sub topics to clarify more attitudes towards peace. 

                       Whatever may be the differences and interpretations, all religions would invariably agree that peace is an absolute necessity and religion plays a vital role in the peaceful development of the individual, the family, the society, the nation and the world. Therefore, I hope to give full facts regarding the peace, which discuss in Buddhism.

                      My effort will be not only getting to full marks through this assignment but also establish peace in the world with the teaching of Buddhism.

The Basic of the Peace

                                In this topic I would like to discuss about what are the basic fundamental factors for establish the peace. According to my personal views, peace will destroy because of our defilements. Buddhism explain about that are the enmity of peace such as Lobha,Dosa,moha,Māna,Vicikiccā etc. Then what are the basic factors of the peace. There are four main points, which I define as the basic of the peace.

·         Metta

·         Karuna

·         Mudita

·         Upekkha

These four factors can mention as the four factors of the peace. I will further explain about these points   in my next topics.

Introduction to Pāli terms focused concept “peace”

As I have earlier mentioned, Buddhism is generally seen as associated with non-violence and peace. Therefore, I was able to find so many word, which related with peace. We are assigned to find only fifteen words but here I have mention more than fifteen world for peace but some of those are opposite words, which also discuss the cause to destroy peace.

1.      Suvimuttacitto

                  Appampi ce sahitam bhāsamāno,
                  Dhammassa hoti anudhammacāri,
                  Rāganca dosamca pahāya mohano,
                  Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto,
                  Anupādiyāno idha vā huraü vā,
                  Sa bhāgavā sāmannassa hoti.[1]

The meaning of this stanza is Little though he recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing of this or any other world - he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life.

2.      verāni                

Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṃ

Averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano

The meaning is

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.

(Dhammapada Yamakavagga 05 verse)

3.      Appamādo          

                  Appamādo amatapadam,  pamādo Maccuno padam,
                   Appamattā na miyanti,  ye pamattā yathā matā

Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already.

(Dhammapada Appamada vagga  01 verse)

According to this stanza, death is suffering which destroy peacefulness in human life but The Deathless or Amata where we can find the ultimate peace is called Nibbana, so called because those who attain it are free from the cycle of repeated birth and death.

The opposite word is called Pamādo, which means Heedlessness.

4.      Santa

                  Santam tassa manam hoti,  santā vācā ca kamma ca,
                   Sammadnnā  vimuttassa,  upasantassa tādino.[2]

Calm is his thought, calm his speech, and calm his deed, who, truly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise.

5.      Upasantha

‘‘Jayaṃ veraṃ pasavati, dukkhaṃ seti parājito;

Upasanto sukhaṃ seti, hitvā jayaparājaya’’nti

This stanza appears also in several places. One of them is Saṃyutta Nikāya – Sagāthāvaggapāḷi -

Kosalasaṃyuttaṃ and Dhammapada.

Again another example I found from thera gatha pali

‘‘Upasanto uparato, mantabhāṇī anuddhato;

Dhunāti pāpake dhamme, dumapattaṃva māluto’’ti.

Victory produces enmity and the defeated one dwells in suffering. But the peaceful one dwells in happiness, having left behind victory and defeat.

6.      ‘‘Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā, āhāre ca anissito;

7.      Vimokkho

‘‘Yassāsavā parikkhīṇā, āhāre ca anissito;

Suññatā animitto ca, vimokkho yassa gocaro;

Ākāseva sakuntānaṃ, padaṃ tassa durannaya’’nti.

The additional term, which used to peace, is Vimokkha. This is also found in Vijayattheragāthā.

8.      Nibbuto or parinibbuto

‘‘Ekapupphaṃ cajitvāna, asīti vassakoṭiyo

Saggesu paricāretvā, sesakenamhi nibbuto’’ti.

This is similar expression to Nibbana. As same as Parinibbuto. This can find in Theragatha pali Rakkhitattheragāthā.

9.      Dukkhassantaṃ

If we separate this word, it will be Dukkha+Anta. The end of suffering, which means also peace. The example is from Nītattheragāthā.

‘‘Sabbarattiṃ supitvāna, divā saṅgaṇike rato;

Kudāssu nāma dummedho, dukkhassantaṃ karissatī’’ti.

10.  Cetosamathakovido

The control of mind or in another word clever to keep his mind in concentration is also another meaning for peace. I found example from Vacchagottattheragāthā

‘‘Tevijjohaṃ mahājhāyī, cetosamathakovido;

Sadattho me anuppatto, kataṃ buddhassa sāsana’’nti.

11.  Samagge

The harmony or no any violence is called another peace. According to Vakkalittheragāthā is will be clearer.

Āraddhavīriye pahitatte, niccaṃ daḷhaparakkame

Samagge sahite disvā, viharissāmi kānane.

12.  Cetosamathamanuyutto

Samatha calm abiding or peacefulness is another similar word, which we can use to indicate peace. According to Ākaṅkheyyasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya the example for this term is

Ākaṅkheyya ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu – ‘sabrahmacārīnaṃ piyo ca assaṃ manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā’ti, sīlesvevassa paripūrakārī ajjhattaṃ cetosamathamanuyutto anirākatajjhāno vipassanāya samannāgato brūhetā suññāgārānaṃ.[3]

13.  Akkodhanā

Akkodhanā is another term, which has used to describe about peace. In Sallekhasuttaṃ of Mijjhima nikaya describe it as

‘Pare kodhanā bhavissanti, mayamettha akkodhanā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo. ‘Pare upanāhī bhavissanti, mayamettha anupanāhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo. ‘Pare makkhī bhavissanti, mayamettha amakkhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo. ‘Pare paḷāsī bhavissanti, mayamettha apaḷāsī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo. ‘Pare issukī bhavissanti, mayamettha anissukī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo. ‘Pare maccharī bhavissanti, mayamettha amaccharī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.[4]

14.  Mettacitto

Mettacitto, which means mind of loving kindness this Cultivating loving-kindness, is thought to contribute to a world of love, peace, and happiness.

na ca pāpikaṃ vācaṃ nicchāressāmi, hitānukampī ca viharissāmi mettacitto, na dosantaro’ti. Evañhi te, phagguna, sikkhitabbaṃ.[5]

15.  Sukhamanveti

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā;

Manasā ce pasannena, bhāsati vā karoti vā;

Tato naṃ sukhamanveti, chāyāva anapāyinī

If your mind feels happiness, that is also another term for peace.

                           Thought we were assigned to find only pali term for peace here I have mentioned with example for more clearness to how should we establish peace in the society.

Conclusion

                              As I have earlier mention that, this is not only an assignment but also effort to establish peace in the world. Therefore using these pali words we have to understand the importance of peace.

                      According to my viewpoint, I would like to say that gun missile and war only destroy few part of world but if somebody has desires madness and more craving can be destroyed his entire life. Today most of countries are suffering with war. They lost their sons, mother, and friends’ relations during the periods of war.

                       Finally, war brought only separation suffering painful nothing less. As a best example Sri Lankan, we had war with Tiger terrorist during that period most innocent has lost their happiness. Finally, now we are free from war as result of that we all are living without fear.it is true that we have little bit economic problem but we all are living without fear.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

01.            Sallekhasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana

02.            Kakacūpamasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana

03.            Ākaṅkheyyasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana

04.            Arahantavaggo Dhammapada 07 verse

05.            Dhammapada Yamakavagga 20 verse

Secondary Sources

02. Dhammapada by Narada

03. The Pali-English Dictionary edited by T.W Rhys Davids William Stede

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[1] (Dhammapada Yamakavagga 20 verse)

[2] Arahantavaggo Dhammapada 07 verse

[3] Ākaṅkheyyasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana

[4] Sallekhasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana

[5] Kakacūpamasuttaṃ of Mijjhima Nikaya chatta sangayana