I think we do, but as you so rightfully said, it must be done by example, not coersion. Our philosophy of life allows nothing else. Since we are only allowed to do it by example, the road will be long and difficult. Compassion is indeed the only reason we are here, yet it is the most difficult quality to impart on our brothers and sisters.
May you find peace,
Luan Pa
P.S. your avatar picture does not convey your message.
EDIT, what a wonderful avatar, a lotus, the plant which indeed reflects our fate as humans. The seeds spends years in the mud at the bottomof the pond to finally sprout, reach the surface as a plant and then face the light and be turned by it into a beautiful flower... lotus is an analogy for a human being in Buddhism.
EDIIT2: Friend, death from above is a motto of the 101st airborne division. I served with them and became a Buddhist monk when I saw what war can do... It is a reminder of what I was, not a mission statement. i thank you for taking time to respond and bow my head to you... may you find true peace...
2007-08-27 21:46:37
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
4⤊
0⤋
Interesting.
This kind of question has been exercising me recently as well.
I haven't really got it sorted in my mind yet but here are a couple of thoughts.
Several studies have shown that the more people sitting in meditation in an area, the less crime there will be in that area.
Our duty is that which is right in front of our noses. Concerning ourselves with suffering about which we can do nothing upsets us and actually increases the total amount of human suffering in the world.
Just how does a Buddhist live within the rule of law if that law supports a different ethic?
There is a fine line between the cosmic awareness this poem can bring and the laziness which it might also encourage ;
'Sitting quietly, doing nothing,
Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.'
I'm afraid what I've written here reminds me of the song 'There are more questions than answers'.
2007-08-27 22:39:02
·
answer #2
·
answered by Anonymous
·
3⤊
0⤋
Nice question, lots of nice answers.
Here's my take, for what it may be worth.
We human 'beings' do tend to obsess a lot about what we are 'doing', and if you really look seriously at what we 'do' that is where a lot of our problems originate. Our thinking take us to insane concepts like 'better', for example, and then, when we try to 'do' 'better', that is when things get really crazy.
We are a 'restless' species, and one of our primary drives seems to be that the 'grass is always greener' on the other side of the hill, so we are continually looking at other's 'grass', and every once in a while we just march in and try to take it.
This, in my opinion, is a major contributor to the lack of peace in the world.
However, there is an underlying condition, which is most sinister, and needs to be addressed. If one takes a serious look at how we raise our young, and how most societies work, on a day to day basis, it is clear that some 'power' or 'force' is at work conditioning us to believe that we should compete with each other, individually, in groups, as nations, as racial groups, as religious groups, in fact along any identifiable lines of difference.
Then, on a societal level we are fed propaganda that we, somehow, are 'better' than others. Our stuff is the best, and others would benefit from receiving our stuff, even, if necessary, at the point of an instrument of death.
This is definitely not 'right'.
Unfortunately 'war' is a perfect condition for the supreme expression of capitalism. Infinitely expanded production, followed by almost immediate destruction. The ideal climate for making enormous amounts of 'money.
And there is the problem.
Peace is not perceived as being profitable enough, and certainly not when compared to war.
This condition is perpetuated by the relatively tiny proportion of the human population that control the vast majority of the wealth, and, as a result, mothers and fathers still send their young ones off to strange places to kill and be killed.
Insane.
Buddhists are one of the groups in the world who seem to understand that peace comes from inside, not outside.
One cannot 'fight' for peace.
What we 'do' generally makes things worse, it is in what we 'Be' that our hopes all lie.
If enough of us can simply be still and 'Be' the peace we inherently desire, eventually by the Light of all sorts of intricate mechanisms, we will bring absolute peace about, absolutely.
'Spreading words' has usually got us into worse situations, and the reason that I have always been attracted to Buddhism above all other understandings is that the Lord Gautama discovered this for himself, and then offered his discovery to us all, but only if we are prepared to seek it for ourselves , individually.
And this is how peace will return to us, one by one. :-)))
{{{{{{{{{{{{{Cosmic Peace}}}}}}}}}}}}}
2007-08-28 01:28:07
·
answer #3
·
answered by cosmicvoyager 5
·
3⤊
0⤋
Buddhism is often called a 'secret teaching'.... When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Each according to his own understanding.
Buddhist respect the beliefs of others recognizing the search for the Divine has many paths.
cheers
2007-08-27 21:59:21
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
3⤊
0⤋
Buddhists that observe the 5 precepts are already contributing to world peace.Agreed with you that everyone regardless of their faith must put in effort to bring peace and compassion to all beings and the 5 precepts might be a good reference to start with.
Sukhihotu to all.
2007-08-27 22:42:04
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anger eating demon 5
·
2⤊
0⤋
I think the Buddist way would suggest that leading by example, and letting others follow would be the best way to spread the great message of Buddism, when people see that happiness that it brings, some will be intrigued and look into it, most of those who do so will be overwhelmed by the inner peace it brings....
2007-08-27 23:59:25
·
answer #6
·
answered by Will 3
·
3⤊
0⤋
love the philosphy you lack the amount of hard driving jerks to get the word out. Buddhism is superior in matters of governing poeple but that statement is an oxymoron. being a passivist is to advanced for most societies unfortunately. paranoid delusions prevail
2007-08-27 21:56:42
·
answer #7
·
answered by otis spunkmeyer 3
·
1⤊
0⤋
Peace is the reality, as is unity, it's people not living in reality that cause disharmony, until one is ready not much can be done.
2007-08-27 21:51:22
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
3⤊
0⤋
We can and do this with our thoughts, words and deeds. Our Actions have consequences and those consequences too have yet further consequences...
As Buddhists, our primary concern is Panna, Sila and Samadhi..that is Wisdom, Ethical Conduct and Mental Discipline or Wisdom, Morality and the Mind..with these developments of the Noble Eightfold Path as our guide then, we bring Peace to ourselves...thus fully developed within we can then pass this knowledge on to others...
It is through Mindfulness that we become aware of others...this Mindfulness allows us to provide happiness to others where there it is most beneficial...this then provides positive Karma for others as well as avoiding and also negating the negative Karma caused by other's ignorance towards us...thus do we enact Right View for it is with Mindfulness practise that other's are helped, as it were, without their knowledge, thus our gained wisdom assists and aids others with no need or even thought of reward or gain for ourselves...it is unnecessary and detrimental to us and our Path in any case...
To thus become "active" and "spread the word" would negate the Selflessness for which we strive...by this I do not mean Selflessness as in Altruism...rather Selflessness as in being a Not Self...being the Observer..our activeness is already happening with the positive Karma and positive Actions which we already enact and the practise of Not Self...Self-lessness allows our real Selves to further help others implicitly with Mindfulness and Noble silence...Compassion and Love already occur...each moment which we Observe and each moment we Live, each moment which we practise Loving Kindness and each moment we give to others for their benefit...
I agree that the practise of Buddhism unites and includes others...we can "spread the word" of Peace by being Peaceful...this will beget positive Karma and positive Consequences...even a smile will beget such consequence...
It is not for us to decide if others are happy..the purpose of Mindfulness is to develop this awareness yet not intrude with our newfound wisdom...to want to do so is caused by selfishness and clinging to ideas of superiority over others or a feeling of being better or some other such selfishness...this is delusion and unworthy...rather we should be prepared to help others who remain behind the cloud of illusion and clinging providing for their happiness when called upon to do so without regret or preconceptions due to the consciousness, rather selflessly from our true selves...thus allowing others their validity and to develop their own inner strengths thus gaining wisdom from within rather than from us..if you follow me...
Wisdom is its own reward and providing it for others benefit selflessly allowing others to gain it and nurture it for themselves would be preferable to "pointing the finger" as it were or provide judgement or other selfishness...
It is a task for others to see their own delusions and selfishness...to point it out is to cause suffering and anxiety...I prefer to be harmless and humble than harmful and brash...don't you..?
Some thoughts on Mindfulness from...
A Buddhist...
2007-08-28 11:06:08
·
answer #9
·
answered by Gaz 5
·
1⤊
0⤋
I didn't think Buddha asked to have the word spread. I thought Buddha thought people would find Buddhism when they were ready!
2007-08-27 21:39:44
·
answer #10
·
answered by Fireball224 f 1
·
2⤊
1⤋