Daya
Hewapathirane,
Lanka Daily News, Sept 6, 2007
Colombo,
Sri Lanka -- As a global religion, Buddhism have expanded to every
part of Asia - even to the West - and is a faith that is always
characterized by a spirit of tolerance, harmonization and assimilation.
Buddhism in general absorbed pre-existing beliefs to a point where
clear distinction is now often difficult.
This is clearly evident in China, Japan, India, Korea, Thailand
and Myanmar among others. The harmonious assimilation of Taoism,
Confucianism and Buddhism is well evident in the Chinese form
of Buddhism. In Japan we see that the harmonious adaptation of
Shinto divinities into Buddhist pantheon - honji-suijaku.
All sects deserve reverence for one reason or another. By
thus acting, a man exalts h same time does service to the sects
of other people. This edict of the earliest and greatest
of Buddhist leaders of Asia, Emperor Asoka expresses lucidly the
spirit of tolerance, acceptance, harmonization and assimilation
that is characteristic of Buddhism.
How Buddhism harmoniously integrated with pre-existing Shamanistic
beliefs is well evident in Korea. Similarly in Myanmar and Thailand,
Buddhism assimilated well with pre- existing nat worship
and animistic beliefs, respectively.
Wherever Buddhism was introduced, it did not encounter any form
of violent confrontation because its approach had always been
one of tolerance, acceptance, harmonization and assimilation with
pre-existing beliefs and spiritual norms.
There may be various schools among Buddhists of the
world. But unlike most other religious denominations, among the
Buddhist schools there is a good amount of interaction,
understanding, cooperation and cordiality.
There are many Buddhist practices, meditation and mindfulness
training in particular which are common to all Buddhist traditions,
which enable Buddhists to link up and cooperate more closely,
in their pursuit of their common goal.
This has been the practice even in ancient times.
The reports of famous Chinese pilgrims to India from the fourth
to the ninth centuries CE testify that in spite of the fact that
at that time, Buddhists were divided into some 18 different schools,
bhikkhus belonging to different schools could be found living
together in the same monastery, practicing and conducting communal
business in peace and harmony.
Persecution and destruction
Buddhists experienced untold persecution from non-Buddhists during
the history of Buddhism. Persecution may refer to unwarranted
arrest, imprisonment, beating, torture, or execution.
It also may refer to the confiscation or destruction of property,
or the incitement of hatred toward Buddhists. Christians, Muslims
and Communists were largely responsible for such persecution and
destruction. In the late 12 century, Muslim invaders slaughtered
thousands of Buddhist monks in places such as Bihar, India.
The Buddhist University of Nalanda with its great library was
left in ruins. Countless ancient Buddhist monuments were defaced
or destroyed, virtually erasing the Buddhist faith from India.
Atrocities committed by Catholics and Christians in Sri Lanka
especially during the 16th to 20th century period were no different.
The Evangelical Christian unethical prosetytization menace has
become an increasingly serious problem for Sri Lankan Buddhists
in recent decades.
The religious fanaticism and brutality and the unethical and confrontational
approaches adopted by some conventional religions in the past
and today, to serve their selfish ends, provide a stark contrast
to the approach in Buddhism which is reflective of the Buddhas
supreme message of harmony and moderation, of an inspiring middle
way in all human situations in an impermanent world.
Interest in Buddhism in the West
Buddhism started to enjoy a strong interest from the general population
in the West during the 20th century, following the perceived failure
of social utopias including the conventional religions of the
West.
After the Second World War, the focus of progress tended to shift
to personal self-realization, on the material as well as spiritual
plane. In this context, Buddhism has been displaying a strong
power of attraction, due to its tolerance, its lack of theistic
authority and determinism, and its focus on understanding reality
through self inquiry.
According to the latest census it is now the fastest growing religion
in several countries in the Western world.
Fundamentalism and intolerance
In contemporary times we witness a disastrous hardening of two
of the worlds major religions - Islam and Christianity,
into rigid fundamentalism, in which each aggressively proclaims
its beliefs, zealously proselytizes, and even takes up arms against
its rivals.
A fundamentalist and intolerant stance, taken by any religion,
is offensive to followers of other faiths and to those of no faith
at all. Overzealous attempts at conversion disturb peaceful coexistence.
Intolerance is essential only to monotheism. An only God is by
nature a jealous God who will not allow another to live. When
a religion sees its scripture as revealed and divinely inspired,
it finds a basis for exclusivity and intolerance.
Justification for intolerance is provided by the very nature of
a Supreme Being who is described as a jealous and angry being,
who punishes those who defy Him with eternal damnation.
There are stories in the Bible which describe God as committing
genocide on unbelievers with violence toward men, women, children,
and even the unborn. The Koran says: Slay unbelievers wherever
you find them, and drive them out of the places they drove you
from . . . Fight them until idolatry is no more and Gods
religion is supreme.
Patience and non-aggression
Buddhism does not accept an omnipotent God, a Creator, nor any
revealed scripture. Because faith in God or a savior is not an
issue for Buddhists, there is no reason to judge others, to condemn
them for their beliefs, or to feel compelled to convert them.
The Buddha Dhamma is described as ehipassiko, inviting one to
come and see for himself. There is no concept of coercion or proselytization
in Buddhism.
Buddha taught the importance of patience, tolerance, and non-aggression,
providing a splendid ideal of tolerance for Buddhists to follow.
There is not a single occasion in the Buddhist scriptures of the
Buddha being less than compassionate, not only to those who accepted
his teachings but also to the followers of all faiths, not only
to the good but also to the wicked, not only to humans but also
to animals and to all living beings.
In striking contrast to the spread of other world religions, which
are replete with unethical and forcible conversions and sectarian
strife, the history of Buddhism is remarkable for the complete
absence of bloodshed in the name of the teacher.