World of Philosophy

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

Page 996

war, if we plant the seeds of peace, we get peace. Buddhism tells that plant and water the seeds of non-violence, which will yield fruits of peace. In conflict situation, non-violence is the desired end as well as the means to achieve it. When we make non-violence as part of our daily lives, we water the seeds of a non-violent society. Vimalakirtisutra beautifully states that with skilful means and practice, we can solve the world's conflicts non-violently:
"In times of war, give rise in yourself to the mind of compassion, Helping living beings, abandon the will to fight. Where there is a furious battle, Use all your might to keep both sides strength equal, And then step into reconcile this conflict"
In Majjhimanikaya, sutra104, the Samagamasutra sets out clearly, the causes of disputes, the ways to settle disputes and the way to promote harmony in a Bhikshusangha founded by the Buddha. Procedures are also developed for resolving disputes. These procedures may not be completely applicable in modern times, but we can work out ways in which we can apply the basic ideas that underlies those procedures:
The first cause of dispute is anger or ill-will. Anger chases out all positive qualities. Angry person looks every one and everything with resentment, disliking and disagreement. He starts to stir up dissatisfaction to cause dispute.
The next source of dispute lies in somebody being harsh and unmerciful. It is a negative mental state in which we just do not have any feeling for other people; we do not feel that we are hurting them.
The third source of dispute is in the mind of individual. It felling of jealousy and grudging. In this state of mind, we see others as having things that we want and resent them for it.
The fourth source of dispute is craftiness and deceitfulness. This is very selfish attitude, where some one thinks 'how can I get what I want?' This makes him crafty. People of this kind are also deceitful. They do not reveal their real harmful intentions. They disguise them under appearance of sincerity and sympathy.
The fifth source of dispute is evil desires and wrong views.
The sixth source of dispute is some one who is infected with too much worldliness.
All these six sources of disputes cut us off from the spiritual vision. The Buddha makes it very clear where the resolution of disputes has to start.
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