Buddhism, founded approximately 2,500 years ago is considered to be the oldest and is the third largest of the three world religions–Christianity and Islam are the other two. Buddhism has perhaps the strongest tradition of non-violence and peace of the three. In the last century—one of almost unremitting strife—Buddhism has been a champion of peaceful coexistence and non-violent resolution of problems. There were notable exceptions: some Nichiren sects and the co-opted Zen of mid 20th century militaristic government of Japan are two examples. On the other hand, the five decades-long largely non-violent struggle for the independence of Tibetans, under the leadership the Dalai Lama, is notable.
The founder of the Buddhist religion, Siddh_rtha of the Gautama clan in India, at the age of 35 renounced worldly ambition by becoming a wandering monastic to seek enlightenment and salvation. Once he achieved enlightenment he became known as the Buddha (The Enlightened One). The religion that the Buddha founded has among its core precepts a prohibition on killing. READ MORE
War
Buddhist Opposition to War and Killing →
Our View: One death does not kill war on terror →
It certainly isn’t over.
Flags waved and people danced, hugged and asserted red-white-and-blue patriotism like they hadn’t done in years.
Osama bin Laden is dead.
While this overnight sense of American pride is welcome and much-needed in our country, and the efforts of our military operatives and president are to be highly commended, we cannot for a second begin to think that the war on terrorism is complete. READ MORE