Is Buddhism too focused on the individual and lacking in its social dimension?
Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatsowith Obama, Fotography from the White House by Pete Souza
The term “Buddhism” is a modern usage. The Buddha himself referred to his teaching as Dhamma-Vinaya, with “Vinaya” referring to means by which the external environment can be ordered so as to create the optimum conditions for the study, practice and realization of Dhamma. Vinaya reaches its apogee in the rules and regulations governing the life of Buddhist monastics, but is also applicable to society at large. In the latter context, Vinaya takes form of laws, customs, and conventions that support the reduction of greed, hatred and delusion in communities, and encourage the growth of justice, peace and harmony.
Students of the primary Buddhist texts find a great number of teachings dealing with the social dimension of the Dhamma. This area of Buddhism has, perhaps been neglected by Western writers, who have been much more interested in the teachings on meditation. Desiring Buddhism free from Asian “cultural baggage”, they have sometimes ended up with an incomplete and reductionist view of Dhamma-Vinaya.
To be fair, it must be admitted that the leaders of modern Buddhist nations have made the same mistake. In Thailand, the gods of the free market have come to exert far more influence that the principles of Vinaya. Short-term gains are generally seen as more practical and rewarding goals than long-term well-being.
More questions and answers HERE
Source:
- Without and Within – Ajahn Jayasaro
Ryokan Says
Even when I think should be a clear distance between religion and government we can’t deny that Buddhism have some positions about society that could be very helpful for all the citizens. Ashoka can represent one of the earliest examples of Buddhism put into action from a society perspective, a good reference.
~Ryokan
