Hatred never ceases through hatred in this world.
Only by love does hatred cease.
This is an ancient natural law.
— The Buddha (Dhammapada)
Only by love does hatred cease.
This is an ancient natural law.
— The Buddha (Dhammapada)
Fear results from resorting to violence-- just look at how people quarrel and fight! Let me tell you of the dismay and terror I have felt. Seeing people struggling, like fish writhing in shallow water, with enmity opposed to one another, fear came upon me. At one time, I wanted to find some place where I could take shelter, but I never saw any such place. There is nothing in this world that is solid at base and not a part of it that is changeless. I had seen them all trapped in mutual conflict and that is why I had felt so repelled. But then I noticed something buried deep in their hearts— the dart of ignorance, craving, and egoism. This is the dart that sends its victims running all over the place. But once it has been removed, all that running and the exhaustion that come with it are finished.
— The Buddha (Sutta-Nipata, vs. 935-939)
From a Buddhist perspective, the starting point is to become self-aware, to become aware of one's own violence. Many activists may speak out clearly about many forms of "external violence" but they may not be very
aware of their own internal violence, and how they act with the people around them. For this reason, nonviolence is an important foundation. If one is violent toward one's self and with others, then the violence tends to become more and more structural.
Actually, most so-called Buddhists do not even look very deeply into themselves. But if someone has come to understand himself or herself well, the next step is to confront suffering, that is, to follow the first of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths. But how do we find the cause of suffering when greed, hatred, and delusion are institutionalized and structural?
We have to understand and transform the structures. We have to see how greed is present in consumerism and capitalism; how hatred is linked with centralization, state power, and the military; how delusion is present in our education and media. Then we can change those structures through the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. But without personal transformation, social or structural transformation is not possible.
— Sulak Sivaraksa, Thai engaged Buddhist leader
We embrace diversity and invite anyone to join our meetings.
For more information, please contact us at: [email protected]
Currently, due to health and scheduling concerns, some in-person activities and meetings have been suspended. But we are meeting on Zoom, most second Thursdays of each month, at 7:30 pm. Please email [email protected] if you wish to participate. Thank you.
— The Buddha (Sutta-Nipata, vs. 935-939)
From a Buddhist perspective, the starting point is to become self-aware, to become aware of one's own violence. Many activists may speak out clearly about many forms of "external violence" but they may not be very
aware of their own internal violence, and how they act with the people around them. For this reason, nonviolence is an important foundation. If one is violent toward one's self and with others, then the violence tends to become more and more structural.
Actually, most so-called Buddhists do not even look very deeply into themselves. But if someone has come to understand himself or herself well, the next step is to confront suffering, that is, to follow the first of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths. But how do we find the cause of suffering when greed, hatred, and delusion are institutionalized and structural?
We have to understand and transform the structures. We have to see how greed is present in consumerism and capitalism; how hatred is linked with centralization, state power, and the military; how delusion is present in our education and media. Then we can change those structures through the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. But without personal transformation, social or structural transformation is not possible.
— Sulak Sivaraksa, Thai engaged Buddhist leader
We embrace diversity and invite anyone to join our meetings.
For more information, please contact us at: [email protected]
Currently, due to health and scheduling concerns, some in-person activities and meetings have been suspended. But we are meeting on Zoom, most second Thursdays of each month, at 7:30 pm. Please email [email protected] if you wish to participate. Thank you.
