Listening to the Dali Lama this week, I became more aware of cultures and religions around the world and how they contribute to either war or peace.
No country is perfect, and no religion is perfect, yet there do appear to be some themes over the years that provide insight.
Buddhism, based on a theme of peace and respect for human beings and all of life, has been one of the more peaceful religions of the world for centuries. Tibet and other Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and countries like Costa Rica and Switzerland, have lived fairly consistently through the centuries (or at least have learned from their histories), and remain today, countries of peace.
Buddhists study compassion and logic. Western countries, often based in Christianity, tend not to learn from their history, and large segments of society devalue study and logic in favor of emotional and judgmental responses.
The only way to create world peace is through inner peace. Otherwise we project our inner violence outward. Meditation is rare in the Western world. Threrefore inner peace is rare, and it follows outer peace is rare.
Buddhism has at it's core a concern for others rather than claiming rights. The Buddhist concentrates on developing the mind/spirit as opposed to "modern education" with its emphasis on thinking rather than connecting with God, Love, and wisdom of the heart (peace).
Buddhists tend to manage fear and suspicion much better than westerners, who have their thinking based in a more violent religion. The Crusades, Hitler's Germany, the slaughter of Native Americans, and even recent conservative Christianity with its attack on kindness, love, sexual orientation, and emphasis on racism and exclusion, are examples of how we tend to promote violence rather than peace.
Americans, in particular, often find themselves fighting with each other rather than cooperating for the good of all. (Think of the military budget of the United States, which exceeds the combined military budgets of the next 12 most military-enhanced countries of the world combined together. We also seem to pride ourselves in owning and distributing more than 1/2 of the world's guns to our citizens, finding comfort thinking violence will protect us from what we fear.)
Thankfully, there are still many Christians in the United States that seem to promote the ideas of compassion, inclusion, respect for life, and concern for fellow humans as core to their faith. This is where Christianity meets Buddhism and other religions of the world that focus on minimizing self-centeredness and are focused on caring for others.
I would be curious to hear from non-violent Christians and also Buddhists who are more familiar with their faith than I am. A respectful and non-attacking dialogue is encouraged.
I think the main takeaway for me from the Dali Lama's recent remarks is that if we want peace in the world, we have to create in within ourselves. What cultures and religions contribute to that end? How are you personally doing this for you?
