By
Satya Priya Sraman
Introduction
Dialogue is a both a
kind of conversation and a way of relating. On the other hand seeks to form and
learn rather than to persuade. It is a conversation animated by a search for
understanding rather than for agreements or solutions. Dialogue has no fixed
goal or predetermined agenda. It broads aim is to promote respectful inquiry,
and to stimulate a new sort of conversation that allows important issues to
surface freely. While opponents in deep-rooted conflict are unlikely to agree
with each other’s views, they can come to understand each other’s perspective.
There is not a single
argument for the existence of God that has not been carefully considered and
ultimately rejected by philosopher of Buddhist tradition, Buddhism has been
therefore invariably atheistic and will probably always remain so, at least so
long as Buddhists continue to think and to reject doctrines for which there is
inadequate support.
Buddhist Principle for Individual Development
·
Individual
Development with Dana (Generosity)
Dana is one the most
essential thing of the Buddhist practice. When we practice Dana, it is a basis
of merit or wholesome Kamma. It is also noble discipline for the human society.
Generosity is the quality of individual development. When some is being
generous, his mind is already more pliable, enabling him to observe morality,
to concentrate and to develop insight. With generosity will bring happiness in
our life in the present and future. Even also next life can be wealthy
according to the kammic law of cause and effect taught by the Buddha.
In
the practice of giving, this would mean keeping one's mind pure in the act of
giving, selecting the worthiest recipients available, and choosing the most
appropriate and generous gifts one can afford.
In the Buddhism if
someone does not practice in the present life, it will be difficult to be born
in favorable condition in next life. So we have to practice dana (generosity)
for our individual development.
·
Individual Development with Five Precepts
Most people want to live a safe, healthy and happy life. How
do we proceed toward this ideal? The Buddha provided us with five precepts to
guide us on our way to individual development. We are to abstain from killing,
stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants. Not just for
Buddhists, these precepts are basic to the major spiritual traditions and
ethical teaching in our world today.
Precepts are not to be stick to merely on a accurate basis.
We need to understand their logic, so as to better judge how to wisely follow
them. If we understand the intention behind a precept, we will be better able
to adhere to its inherent meaning when meet new or difficult situations.
With five precepts we can develop the inner strength to
think and conduct ourselves correctly. By the observing these morality, we can
develop purity of physical and verbal actions.
·
Personal Development with Meditation
Meditation
is mental purification and alternative medicine. Our practice and training in
discipline and not harming other will reduce and gradually eliminate our
harmful verbal and physical behaviors.
Our minds will become calmer and less agitated. When our minds are thus
settled, we will be better able to concentrate. Our concentration will
initially reduce and then gradually eliminate our disturbing thoughts and
uncover our innate wisdom. Therefore discipline, meditative concentration and
wisdom.
Buddhist
Principle for Social Development
·
Social
Development with Brahmavihara
In the Buddha’s
teaching we can see with Brahmavihara we can develop our society. It is
interesting to see that humanitarian assistance is advised through the four
sublime states Brahmavihara when they assist the people in circumstances. This
has eternal and universal value of these noble qualities which can be applied
in our social development. When the people practice Brahmavihara society will
be peaceful. The four states of Brahmavihara as follows:
Ø Metta
(loving-kindness):- Develop thoughts of loving kindness and good will, hoping
for happiness and that of others.
Ø Karuna
(compassion):- Develop thoughts of compassion with sympathy to relieve the
obsessed towards one and other.
Ø Mudita
(empathetic joy):- Develop thoughts of
appreciation, taking delight in the happiness own experience and in that
experienced by other.
Ø Upekkha (equanimity):- Develop equanimity or impartiality in
all vicissitudes of own life and that of other.
·
Economic Development with Buddhist Perspective
Poverty is one of the
main cause problems in the society. With providing economic development in the
society, it will be better and more helpful for the society. In the Brahman
Kutadanta’s advice to the king Mahavijita mentioned in the Kutadanta Sutta[1] can
be worthwhile for the rulers. His advice to the king was that not only the
destitute should be assisted, but also those were self-employment, or hired to
carry out various function. For instance, food and seed-corn should be supplied
to those involved in farming and cattle-rearing; capital should be extended to
those engaged in trade and employees in the royal service should receive income
and food. The advice was taken and the people were happy with one another. On
the others hand, the royal revenue increased and with this and the happiness of
the people, the king’s “well and welfare” was secured. So we can develop our
economic in the society if we follow the according Kutadanta Sutta.
Buddhist
Principle for Religious Conflict Solution
·
Non-violence
in the Buddhist Tradition
The tradition of
Buddhism in politics and public life goes back to the Indian Emperor Afoka, who
ruled over most of the sub-continent in the middle of the third century BCE. It
was Afoka who was primarily responsible for the success of Buddhism and its
diffusion beyond the part of Northeast India where it began. He left a series
of edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars. The most famous one of all is Rock
Edict XIII. He begins this edict by telling of a war he has waged against
Kalikga, in eastern India, in which thousands of people have been killed,
deported, and caused great suffering; and he declares how deeply he regrets
this.
He does not wish
to wage war. He says of himself:
The
beloved of the gods thinks that even if someone does him harm, he should
tolerate it if it can be tolerated. The jungle-dwellers in his realm he also
wishes to conciliate . . . but point out to them his power, so that they may be
modest and not get killed.[2]
·
Religious
Conflict Solution with Ten Royal Virtues
In the modern society
we can see conflict each other between the countries. Such as in Thailand in
the southern province Mulim people claiming for the state. Even Burma, Israel
and philistine, Sri-Lanka with LTT people. Some Medias are saying those
conflicts root coming from religious. However, if we apply Buddha’s teaching
for good governance in the country, it helps to overcome roots cause of the
conflict in the country. In the Cakkavatti Sutta explain the distinguishing
characteristic of the cakkavattin is that he rules “the earth to the extent of
its ocean boundaries, having conquered territories not by force of arms but by
righteousness ( Digha Nikaya: Bruma Pitaka). This means that the character of
the ruler is the crucial factors in Buddhism perspective on good governance. If a good person becomes the ruler, then he
whole system of Dhammic-socialism will be good. On the other hand a bad ruler
will produce an unacceptable type of socialism. When it will be happened, the
conflict will start each other what we can see in modern society. In the
Buddhism introduces about the ten royal virtus (Dasaraja Dhamma) which if
implemented help the spiritual leadership of a dhammaraja resulting in
sustainable peace towards preventing war-displacement. The ten royal virtues as
follows:
1. Dana
(generosity, charity):- The ruler should not have craving and attachment to
wealth and property, but should give it away for the welfare of the people.
2. Sila
(morality): One should never destroy life, cheat steals and exploit others,
commit adultery, utter falsehood and take intoxicating drinks. That is one must
at least observe the Five Precepts of the layperson.
3. Pariccaga
(sacrifice everything for the good of the people):- The leader must be prepared
to live up all personal comfort, name and fame and even one’s own life in the
interest of the people
4. Ajjava
(honesty and integrity):- One must be free from fear or favoritism while
fulfilling duties have since intention and not deceive the public.
5. Maddhava
(kindness and gentleness):- One must possess a genial temperament.
6. Tapa
(austerity in habits):- One must lead a simple life, and should not indulge in
a life of luxury. The leader must have self-control.
7. Akkadha
(freedom from, hatred, ill-will, and enmity):- One should bear no grudge
against anybody.
8. Avihimsa
(nonviolence):- Not only should one not harm another, but also a leader should
be try to promote peace by avoiding and preventing war and everything which
involves violence and the destruction of life.
9. Khanti
(patience, tolerance and understanding):- A leader must be able to bear
hardships, difficulties and insults without losing one’s temper.
10. Avirodha ( non-opposition, non-obstruction): A
leader should not oppose the will of the people. One should not obstruct any measure
that is conducive to the welfare of the people. In others words, a leader
should rule in harmony with the people.
The principles
and procedures proposed for personal regeneration in Buddhism are applicable to
the path of social regeneration. A resolution to conflicts is possible if one
is able to realize the necessity to learn how to loosen the grip exerted by the
unwholesome roots. As discussed earlier the attachment (lobha), aggression (dosa), and delusion (moha) are the three roots of unwholesome
action. Sooner or later, humanity has to make a valiant struggle toward
loosening the grip exerted by these unwholesome roots. This struggle is
necessary to escape from the spiral of hate and criminality in which the
humanity is now engulfed.
Christianity
Principle for Individual Development
Christian
Principles have something to do with our personal relationship to God how we
obey his teachings. One of the teaching of Jesus is the Ten commandments of God
wherein this was given to Moses to spread to all the Christian’s follower of
God. These Ten Commandments was divided into two. The first four perstains how
to Love God. Because of Him life is exist. The last six guides pertains to how
to love others. There is a passage in the Bible related to this Love of others.
There are times as we go on in our activities there are some person whom we
encounter that can cause misunderstanding. The teaching is that loves you
enemies and do good. From this we can develop our own goodness and if we are
true followers of God then inside our heart we will follow this religiously and
as son of God. Then our relationship to God will be stronger than before
because we always base or moves to His teachings. Then success will be
achieved. And also our moral values will be shape.
·
Personal Spiritual Growth for the
Member
Every home is made
up of individuals. If a single person is living on their own, they may be
the home all by themselves.
God does have a
pattern for personal growth, and every part of God's pattern is
important. Personal prayer is important. Prayer with the
understanding is powerful, but prayer must be used in a way consistent with
God's plan. Baptism in water is a holy commitment, and we know from
Scripture that we die when we go down under the water and we are resurrected in
newness of life when we come back out. We also know, from Scripture, that
the baptism of the Holy Spirit is another immersion that goes beyond the
sprinkling that we had originally received when we were born again.
Closely associated
with the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in the tongues of
angels as a private prayer language to build ourselves up in the Spirit of
God. Also, in everything that a Christian does, they should have an
awareness of the presence of God. There must be a flow of the Anointing
of God or we walk in the fleshly nature of death and sin. The love of God
is shed abroad in our
Personal Bible
study is very important, but it is important that we come in humility before
God to receive revelation from Him as we read. If we read and try to
understand by our own intellect in self-confidence and pride, then we will go
into error. In the same way, we spend time in meditation before
God. This is a time when God can speak to the believer and bring to light
the changes that the believer needs to make in his or her life. It is a
time to glory in the presence of God.
Christianity
Principle for Social Development
Being a Christian and
committed to God is very helpful to one’s Social development.
Christianity is the meeting-point
of earth and heaven. It lays claim to the whole man, body and soul, intellect
and will, inducing him to raise his mind above the changing conditions of this
earthly existence and reach upwards for the eternal life of heaven, where one
day he will find his unfailing happiness and peace.
One passage in the
bible that Love your enemies and do good and love your neighbor as yourself.
This passage is very helpful to the development of an individual on how they
convince themselves and relay on the situations in a community. Then by
following this teaching then the whole personality as a Good Christian is
within us.
·
God's Pattern for the Family and the
Home
God
created marriage and the family. Only He has the authority to tell us what it
is. The home, the family, is built on the foundation of a husband and a wife.
The home is the basic building block of the church. For this reason, it is
impossible to write of the home and family outside of the context of the
personal walk with Christ, the local Church, and what Martin Luther called the
universal invisible Church. It is invisible to those who don't have eyes to
see, but it is no more or less visible than the true family..
Then
the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He
brought her to the man. And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones And flesh
of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.
Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh"[3]
Order
of The Home Is Very Important To God. It's part of His glorious plan of
salvation. ("Colossians 3:18) Wives, submit yourselves to your own
husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not
bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is
well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest
they be discouraged. [4]
Husbands
love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.
Wives submit to your own husbands. Children obey your parents. We
teach by example in the family and in the Church. And we also teach by
word. Both are important, but they are ineffective if the life is not in
harmony with what is being taught by word. Everyone submits in the Church
and in the home. The husband may have the responsibility to rule, but not
to lord it over the wife and children. The husband is the example of love
and self-sacrifice and the wife is the example of submission. Christ
loved and gave Himself, and He is always in complete submission to the
Father. There must be unity in the home just as in the Church.
Christianity
Principle for Religious Conflict Solution
When Christians
are unable to resolve a conflict personally and privately, God wants them to
turn to their local church for guidance and assistance ( Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor.
6:1-8). The church can help them in three ways.
·
Conflict Coaching
When
someone asks for your help in resolving a conflict, you can often do a great
deal of good without getting directly involved in the dispute. Instead, you can
simply offer counsel on how that individual might be able to go back to the
other person and resolve their differences in private. In doing so, you are
helping the individual to obey Jesus' instructions in Matthew 5:23-24 and
18:15, "If you ... remember that your brother has something against you
..., go and be reconciled," and "If your brother sins against you, go
and show him his fault, just between the two of you."
·
Mediation
When coaching does not resolve a conflict, God calls the
parties to use meditaion. One or more mediators meet with both sides to promote
constructive dialogue and encourage a voluntary settlement of their
differences. Mediators ask questions and give advice, but it is still up to the
parties to decide on a final solution.
·
Arbitration
Finally, if mediation is unsuccessful, the parties may
proceed to arbitration. Each side explains its position before one or more
arbitrators, who are given the responsibility and authority to render a
decision that everyone agrees to accept as binding.
This
process of offering individual counsel is sometimes referred to as
"coaching," because the conciliator is offering encouragement and
advice from the sidelines instead of getting directly involved with both
parties in the dispute.
An
effective coach will listen carefully and promote personal responsibility while
guiding individuals through the basic steps of peacemaking, which we call the
"Four G's: "Glorify God, Get the log out of your eye, Gently restore,
and Go and be
reconciled.
Possibility
of Buddhism and Christianity Dialogue
·
Related
in Buddhism and Christianity
Compassion and
Love": The compassion, emphasized by the Buddhist, is an expression for
the wisdom which originated in the "Dhama" (in the universal life),
while love in Christianity refers to God's love and brotherly love. In spite of
this difference, both share the religious idea of the redemption of mankind.
Buddhist compassion embraces all mankind, since all things and events are
interrelated. The Bodhisattva practice of Mahâyâna Buddhism is the practice of
compassion arising from this wisdom. The love preached by Jesus, saying that
you should love your enemy and prays for those who persecute you[5],
refers to the general love of all mankind. The statement known as the golden
rule of Christian ethic, "Therefore all things what so ever ye would that
men should do to you do ye even so unto them[6]
applies to everyone.
Conclusion
Practicing the presence
of God in daily life and practicing the Dhamma are different, but overlapping
ways of being in the world, that can contribute to the larger need for a world
that has respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity,
social and economic justice, non-violence, democracy, personal development, and
peace.
The Buddhist Christian
Dialogue is one way to communicate. Buddhist
Christian dialogue is representative of the essence of our religious tradition
which calls us to live life passionately, know it, speak the truth we find,
follow the guidance of that truth and integrate it into our existence. Rather
than pretending we know the answers when we don't, we honestly take up the path
before us.
Bibliography
1. Abe,
Masao. “Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue”, Edited by Seven Heine, Honolulu:
University of Hawaii Press, 1995.
2. Aitken,
Robert and David Steindl-Rast”, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice,
Buddhist and Chtistian, Liguori, Missouri: Triumph Books, 1994.
3. Deegalle,Mahinda
(Editor), “Buddhism, Conflict and Violence in Mordern Sri Lanka”, Oxford Centre
for Buddhist Studies, USA, 2006.
4. Digha
Nikaya, Burma Pitaka Assoc
5. The
Dalai Lama, “The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus,
Boston: Wisdom Publication, 1996.
6. Yagi,
Seiichi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist- Christian Dialogue, New
York: Paulist Pree, 1988.
.
