Violence in Buddhism

Violence in Buddhism refers to acts of violence and aggression committed by Buddhists with religious, political, and socio-cultural motivations. Buddhism is generally seen as among the religious traditions least associated with violence, but in the history of Buddhism there have been acts of violence directed, fomented or inspired by Buddhists. The contemporary outbreak of violence in Asian Buddhist monasteries is not exceptional in history. A few academic works, such as Buddhism and Violence (2006) and Buddhist Warfare (2009), have revealed the violent and military cultures of Asian Buddhist histories across China, India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tibet. Although Buddhism advocates bad karmic consequences for violence, there is a tradition in which Buddhists justify and legitimize some violence and killing as necessary. As Buddhism tends to reject the existence of any essential existence of things, the matter of killing is of intention rather than the act in itself. This book will definitely prove to be a boon to teachers, students and research scholars.

Dr. Indra Narayan a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Buddhist Studies Delhi University since 1996, obtained his Doctorate on A Study of Universal Flux in Theravada Buddhism. Dr. Singh has Published a number of articles and is a regular contributor to various journals and magazines of national and international repute. He has also edited the journals of Buddhist Studies.

Violence in Buddhism refers to acts of violence and aggression committed by Buddhists with religious, political, and socio-cultural motivations. Buddhism is generally seen as among the religious traditions least associated with violence, but in the history of Buddhism there have been acts of violence directed, fomented or inspired by Buddhists.

A stereotype in Western popular culture holds that Islam is a religion of violence while Buddhism is a religion of peace. Like most stereotypes, these claims belie the complex reality of the nature of human beings and religion. We noted in a previous column the problems with viewing Islam as either an inherently peaceful or inherently violent religion.

Now we will look at the issue from a different perspective - pacifist Buddhism could also be described as a violent religion. Buddhism is widely regarded in the West as a nonviolent faith, and there is ample justification for such a view. But throughout its history, Buddhism has also had its violent aspects, and scholars are now examining the history of violent Buddhism.

India was the homeland of Buddhism, and its most famous Buddhist king, Ashoka, is renowned for his conversion to Buddhism and renunciation of military conquest. Yet his edicts include notices that warfare, while inferior to "conquest by Dharma" (conversion), is still permitted, though it must be undertaken with restraint. In other words, he is describing a nascent Buddhist just-war theory.

**Contents and Sample Pages**