World of Philosophy

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

Page 993

The Noble Eight-fold Path preached by the Buddha gives in a nutshell the essentials of Buddhist path of morality which shows the way to humanity how to lead a life with foresight and insight and to maintain individual harmony and peace in the society. The Five Precepts (panchashila] preached by the Buddha under one of the Eight-fold paths (Right conduct], can work as a foundational basis for world peace. The Buddhism preaches that global peace can be established through non-violence. The first cardinal precept of Buddhism is not to harm or not to kill but to cherish all life. It is not a negative concept, but positive doctrine of love and friendship, equality and fraternity among all the living beings of the universe .It is giving up sense of separateness, selfishness, otherness and identifying oneself with all other beings. Suttanipata clearly states that "one should think that other living beings are like myself, and I am like them. Thus, regarding them like myself, he will not do violence to them, he will not cause harm to them". In Samyuktanikaya, it is said that "all beings fear violence, all fear death. Considering them like oneself, one will not do violence to others or cause them any harm"
(P.T.S.p129-130]. Again it says "If you thoroughly search in ten directions with your mind, nowhere you will find anything more dear to you than yourself. In the same way, the self is extremely dear to others. Therefore, one who loves himself should cause no harm to others" P.T.S.p.76].In this precept the Buddha asks us to develop a sense of selflessness i.e. 'no-self.' The expression of 'no-self' refers to a state of consciousness in which the advancement of the self is subordinated to the principle of not harming others and self identity is actualized in accepting others as self. H.H. Dalai Lama, in this connection, clarifies the sanctity of all life: "In our approach to life, be it pragmatic or otherwise, a basic fact that confronts us squarely and unmistakably is the desire for peace, security and happiness. Different forms of life at different levels of existence make up the teeming denizens of this earth of ours. And no matter, whether they belong to the higher groups such as human beings or the lower groups such as animals, all beings primarily need peace, comfort and security. Life is dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Even the lowliest insect strives for protections against dangers that threaten its life. Just as each one of us wants happiness and fear pain, just as each one of us wants to live and not to die, so do all other creatures"[ Inner Peace, World Peace, p.57]. Not to kill means respect for all life. This precept 'not to kill' naturally calls for the settling internal and external conflict through non-violent means .In contemporary world, the need of non-violence has become more pressing than Ever before, because of its manifold applications. It appears to be more efficient method of settling political, racial, religious and other social problems. If we want peace, we should choose path of peace. Killing others will only lead to being killed. The only way of living harmoniously together is to act out of loving kindness. If we end killing the world will be at peace. The second precept, the prohibition against stealing,
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