World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 991

WORLD PEACE- A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE
-Prof. Dr. Yajneshwar S. Shastri
Buddhism has long been associated with peace. The fundamental goal of Buddhism is peace, not only in this world but peace in all worlds. The Lord Buddha himself was a great peace maker. In fact, the Lord Buddha's life itself is a massage of peace. To cite few incidents from Buddha's life will make it very clear.
Four years after the Buddha's attainment of Enlightenment a war about to take place between the city-state of Kapilavastu [the Shakyans) and that of Kilivastu ( the Koliyans) over the use of water. The story runs like this: A severe draught hits the two Kingdoms viz., the Shakyans and the Koliyans. The Rohini River was flowing over both the kingdoms. Because of drought, water level was diminishing in the Rohini River. Both the kingdoms were not getting sufficient water for irrigation. This draught has triggered a dispute over who has the right to divert the rapidly diminishing waters of the Rohini into their respective fields, since the volume of water in the rivers' flow is insufficient to irrigate the crops of both kingdoms an agreement must be brokered. But neither the Koliyans nor the Shakyans are willing to relinquish their claim nor do they show any willingness to co-operate on a compromising plan. Two Kingdoms were about to wage war for the possession of Rohini water, which was very meager. The Kings and their armies were on the verge of fighting Hearing this news the Buddha himself came to the battlefield. At the sight of the Buddha- the world honoured one, solders threw their weapons, telling we can not fight; we can not shoot the arrows at our enemies. Then the Buddha called the chiefs of the two armies and listened to the allegations and counter allegations of the contending parties. The Buddha said, you are aware that hundreds of people will be killed in the battlefield and there will be a flow of blood of solders. The killed solders' families will face untolled pain and misery then he asked them, how much value do you think little water of River in comparison with lives of me? The Kings answered that the lives of the persons involved in the dispute were indeed priceless and the value of water is very slight. In that case, said the Buddha why do you destroy lives of men, which are very valuable for valueless [very meager] water. Then he explained them that people cause war through misunderstanding, thereby harming and killing each other. This is misunderstanding which leads all people to a tragic end. Listening the Buddha's words, the Kings soon came to their senses and a peaceful agreement was reached. So, violent conflict over environmental resources is successfully averted through skillful diplomacy by the Buddha.
The Buddha helped those who were blinded by passion to see the folly of their thoughts and deeds. He did this through friendly discussions in whic he reasoned simply, coolly, clearly and logically. In his teachings there is no
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