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July 24, 2008 at 09:07:05
Promoted to Headline (H3) on 7/24/08: by Ashin Mettacara Page 1 of 1 page(s) 
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By Ashin Mettacara Allow me to discuss with the reader the subject of the Buddha and His views on politics. Being a Buddhist monk, I will try to illuminate you on the right way of life and the best kind of political involvement, according to Buddha's teaching. These teachings are not only for Buddhists, but also for all non-Buddhists: for everyone. What does "Buddhist"- mean? The best answer is that those who are practicing and living in accordance with the Buddha's teachings are Buddhists, because practice is much appreciated by the Buddha. Then, what are the teachings of the Buddha? The rudimentary and shortest answer is that we must always endeavor to do good and kindness, rather than doing evil and harm to others. 
Ashin Mettacara,
Obviously, no one could ever conclude that the current rulers of Myanmar are Buddhists. They have attached their names in name only, to affiliate with Buddhists, in order to rule the country. They essentially tried to become Buddhists without knowing any teachings of the Buddha. These generals are surviving on truly ignorant and blind faith. The true Buddhist must be a self-learner and must continually practice to achieve the highest liberation (nirvana).
Politics and political matters in Buddhism are considered worldly concerns, yes. But the Buddha did not ignore such worldly concerns, because as a Prince estranged and removed from his prior worldly concerns, still He was living in society. Alms food comes from vast numbers of people constituting society. So should not we work to elevate society to evolve into a higher form, to be more effective and more just? The monks were also told by the Buddha to work for the good of many, for the benefit of all beings and for the betterment of society. The intent behind the founding of the community of monks (Sangha in Pali, Pali being the original language of the Buddha) was entirely for the benefit of the people.
In the life of Buddha, we find that the Buddha often discussed politics with the rulers of realms in his time, such as King Mala, King Kosala , King Licchavi and King Ajatasattu . The Buddha always preached the kings that they must rule their kingdoms with dasarajadhamma. The dasarajadamma in Pali is based on ten precepts, in order for the king to best rule the country. They are: (1) be liberal and avoid selfishness, (2) maintain a high moral character, (3) be prepared to sacrifice one's own pleasure for the well-being of the subjects, (4) be honest and maintain absolute integrity, (5) be kind and gentle, (6) lead a simple life for the subjects to emulate, (7) be free from hatred of any kind, (8) exercise non-violence, (9) practice patience, and (10) respect public opinion to promote peace and harmony. Any government who wishes to peacefully rule any nation can effectively apply these 10 precepts even today; they haven't yet and never will "go out of date."-
The Buddha preached non-violence and peace as a universal message. He did not approve of violence or the destruction of life, and declared that there is no such thing as a "just" war. From his own words, He taught: "The victor breeds hatred; the defeated lives in misery. He who renounces both victory and defeat is happy and peaceful."-
Not only did the Buddha teach non-violence and peace: He was perhaps the first and only religious teacher who went to the battlefield personally to prevent the outbreak of a war, when He diffused tension between the Sakyas and the Koliyas who were about to wage war over the waters of Rohini River. He also dissuaded King Ajatasattu from attacking the Kingdom of the Vajjis
He showed how countries could become corrupt, degenerate and unhappy when the head of the government becomes corrupt and unjust. He spoke against corruption and how all governments' actions must be based on humanitarian principles.
The Buddha once said, "When the ruler of a country is just and good, the ministers become just and good; when the ministers are just and good, the higher officials become just and good; when the higher officials are just and good, the rank and file become just and good; when the rank and file become just and good, the people become just and good."
Clearly, religion and politics are something analogous to paper money having two sides. The front can be regarded as religion and the other side can be regarded as politics. They cannot be separated from each other. Otherwise the value of money is nothing. Similarly, Buddhist monks and other religious leaders also should not be separated from politics. I don't mean to imply that they should rule the country, but just to present and to advance their Buddhist precepts throughout the workings of a government in order to prevent so many wars and conquests, persecutions, such egregious atrocities, rebellions, and the destruction of works of art and culture.
Perhaps Thailand can be looked at and considered an example of a successful but not perfect Buddhist Nation. Myanmar has a long way to go in this regard, and the Burmese Generals, if they were smart and wanted to survive as a government, would work at a rapprochement with the Buddhist leaders, who have always had the support and good will of the vast majority of Burmese people, rather than crushing them, infiltrating them, jailing them, beating them, killing them, and otherwise persecuting the Buddhist Monks of Myanmar.
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Religion cannot be separated from politics
Religion cannot be separated from politics in Burma. But religion can be separated from politics in America. This is what I want to say. by Ashin Mettacara (67 articles, 14 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 74 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 9:53:52 AM  (0+)
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When all else fails
Sometimes it's good to remember that nothing lasts forever - even the horrible conditions in Myanmar will pass away eventually, and so will the fascist US government - though it may not happen in our lifetime, nonetheless it will still happen. Buddha's statement that if the government is good the people will be good is true, but I think it's also worth pointing out that the opposite is just as true, after all - our leaders: Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Gonzales/Mukasey/Rice etc etc all came from American families, went to American schools, churches, etc and this is the best we can pump out? This is what our "elite" of the "elite" turn out? War criminals and torturers? There is something deeply rotten in Denmark here. by Cheryl Abraham (13 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:30:41 PM (0+)
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Reply: When all else fails
Thanks for your comments and opinion by Ashin Mettacara (67 articles, 14 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 74 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:46:13 PM (0+)
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Self and world/society
If we exist as the world/Life/Nature/God/the Whole - or for Mahayana Buddhists the word 'Emptiness' comes to mind - that is because we are in the stream of impermananence and interdependence and thus 'we' cannot be unchanging but are none of us separate selves, albeit all of us inherently unique, precious, carried in/expressive of the Buddha nature .... It seems to me that there is a kind of Buddhism in West and East alike which tends to practice an aversiveness and disdain towards what it calls 'politics' or 'worldy matters' because it wants to establish a thick black line between 'politics'/society and spirituality, which is really reliant on the illegitimate template of the (good) separate self versus (bad) world which Buddha's whole intention was to help us to deconstruct and get free of and see beyond ... As is mentioned in the article, even the food which nourishes and forms our bodies has come from chains of social relationships, so how can we pretend to hold ourselves allof from involvement in 'politics' or some kind of meaningful social engagement which eventually somebody or interest group will denounce as 'too political', however much we intend to emphasise the constructive path? I believe that Buddhists in the West will be complicit in global caste racism if we don't speak out against global social injustice, not just in generalities, but in costly acts such as denouncing the inside job lie and racist/Islamophobic frame-up of 911, the iconic fount of the War on Terror. http://www.mujca.com/buddhists911truth.htm How can we aspire to practice and participate in Awakening if we don't take time to research truths outwith the Official Truth (Pravda) of the Powers that Be (Orwell worked in the BBC and intended his 1984 to apply as much to the West but the CIA bought up his film rights so that only the 'East'/Nazis/Soviets would be brought to mind in future film versions). For example, do you know that the US Treasury put Burma on its black list = sanctions fo any company trading with Burma except in oil and one other commodity the very day the hurricane struck, which had been tracked for four days and very possibly directed or even raised using HAARP technology? So much for US disinterested desire to help the ordinary Burmese with their huge military relief invasion, which the Burmese junta was refusing to allow in. (Of course they should have let other countries send peaceful aid). But of course to research wisely and act and speak wisely and compassionately we need to keep coming back to 'individual' or personal practice and and 'self'-change. It is just that I believe when we do so and when we listen to the cries of the world, and try to light some candles and speak some situated truths (other than anodyne generalities), etc, then we realise that we cannot just be into an awakening with some roped off no go aversive blindspsots labelled 'politics' or 'conspiracy theories' etc, and drift along in a comfortable Western dream of We the Good Guys (only focussing on the wrongdoings of the rulers of the 'East' and ignoring the CIA's links to 'democracy' movements and foundations etc, the theft of successive US elections, etc). Let us encourage each other to keep awakening innerly and outerly together, for surely our meditation is not just to create our own perfected special separate selves but is rather 'for the best'/for Life, for the sake of the world we are inescapably and thankfully part of! I think your metaphor of the two sides of paper is helpful. While we mustn't reduce spirituality to politics, least of all hate-filled dualistic ways of being, there doesn't seem to me any way to disentangle them which doesn't rely on aversiveness and attachment to patches of 'outer'world ignorance. Thank you for your article. by Keith Mothersson (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 4:20:40 PM (0+)
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Reply: Self and world/society
Sorry for late to reply. Because I thougth I have already replied your comment. Please forgive me. Thank you very much for you opinion regarding my topic by Ashin Mettacara (67 articles, 14 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 74 comments) on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 12:50:24 PM (0+)
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Thank You Ashin Mettacara
Buried here in the vast heartland and cultural whirlpool of Middle America, I often find myself wondering what people of different cultures and upbringings are thinking and feeling about world events. I appreciate you sharing your opinions and teachings with me. I feel that it helps me to understand the world a little better. Yours is a clear and simple voice in the wilderness. by Torus (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:11:22 PM (0+)
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Reply: Thank You Ashin Mettacara
Thank you very much for your comment and saying thanks to me. May you be happy by Ashin Mettacara (67 articles, 14 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 74 comments) on Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 3:14:02 AM (0+)
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Reply: Lack of reply
Strange how you fail to reply to a fellow buddhist, Keith Mothersson, but then again not really surprising. by sliphoch (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 110 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jul 25, 2008 at 1:13:18 PM (0+)
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Reply: Peace Studies Degree from Bradford UK before it became just
Sorry my friend, I really did not mean as you thought. I forgot to reply and passed it because I thought I have already replied. Thanks for your reminding. by Ashin Mettacara (67 articles, 14 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 74 comments) on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 12:55:06 PM (0+)
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Good and just? I'd be happy with just good leaders!
Of the 10 precepts, those who pollute our white house with their presence fail that protocol most miserably. Albeit the Clown Prince George did make the supreme sacrifice by putting his golf clubs away in honor of our troops, but promptly forgot why after about a week. It's a shame he never grew up. The Empress Panthera, my cat, would make a far superior leader to those buffoons we now have. As for your translations, don't worry about it. Like I used to tell a professor from Taiwan, "your English is much better than my Chinese." by Dave Kisor (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 310 comments [40 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 at 6:44:53 PM (0+)
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