Why Religious Tolerance ?
Buddhist Tolerance
This is a very important subject for us who live in any multi-racial and multi-religious country. As Buddhists, we must know how to regard other religions, how to accommodate them and what place we are going to give them in our religion.
First we must understand the various ways which the different co-religionists regard each other: we must understand how the various religious groups react to each other: some religious groups are indifferent to the teachings and the practices of other religious. Some maintain their religious affiliation and yet respect other religions and appreciate their teachings. There are those who do not have a religion and look down upon every religion, while there are still others who do not bother about any religion and completely ignore all religion: their excuse is that they have no time to think about religion or to practice religion since they are always engaged with their business and family affairs.
Buddhists belong to the religious group that accepts and appreciates the reasonable teachings of every religion. Buddhists can also tolerate the practices of other religious, cultural traditions and customs, although they may not necessarily wish to emulate them. In other words, Buddhists respect the other man’s views and appreciate other practices without harbouring any religious prejudices. This is called religious tolerance. And if there are certain Buddhists who feel they are unable to appreciate the ways of other religious practices, then the least they could do is to maintain their silence and refrain from any undue criticism: this attitude is very important for peaceful co-existence. This is called sympathetic understanding.
If we study certain incidents, practices, traditions and teachings of Buddhism, then we can understand the basis of our religion and our attitude towards the other religions. Others may say that Buddhists are very passive because of this policy of tolerance, but still, we maintain that this attitude is correct and can be appreciated by every thinking man. To practise a religion we must be honest, sincere, truthful and kind to others: we must avoid deceit and cruelty: and in our relation with others we must be broad-minded.
According to the Buddha, if we adopt aggressive and violent methods to solve our problems, we cannot find the real solution to overcome them. No doubt, we can suppress some troubles and temporarily win the battle as long as our enemies remain weak. But when our enemies get the chance, they will not keep quiet and will not forgive us. Therefore, if we act with violence, we can never find lasting peace. This is why the Buddha once said: “Hatred is never ended by hatred, but only by loving-kindness.” Buddha also said: “It is not that I quarrel with the world but the world quarrels with me. A teacher of truth never quarrels with others.
In Buddhism there is no such thing as righteous indignation or righteous anger: Buddhism never tried to justify war under any circumstances. There were no nervous irritability or emotion or anger in the Buddha’s mind just because some people did not pay attention to him.
The only harsh word that the Buddha ever used was “foolish man”, to point that certain beliefs were wrong.
We have ample evidence to prove that, for the last 2500 years, in the propagation of Buddhism, Buddhists have never ill-treated or used violence against the followers of other religions. The sources of evidence include the original teachings of the Buddha, the actual Buddhist practices and traditions and world history. We have introduced this religion all over the world as a goodwill message. We have introduced this religion without forcing people to embrace it; and we have not shed even a drop of blood – either human or animal – in the name of Buddhism. This is a record in world history – a record which is appreciated by every cultured man anywhere in the world, irrespective of his religious denomination or belief.
The attitude of a real religion must be to advise the people instead of ruling or intimidation.
COMPLETE ARTICLE
WHY RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.pdf
May the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be with you !!!!!
Buddhist Tolerance
This is a very important subject for us who live in any multi-racial and multi-religious country. As Buddhists, we must know how to regard other religions, how to accommodate them and what place we are going to give them in our religion.
First we must understand the various ways which the different co-religionists regard each other: we must understand how the various religious groups react to each other: some religious groups are indifferent to the teachings and the practices of other religious. Some maintain their religious affiliation and yet respect other religions and appreciate their teachings. There are those who do not have a religion and look down upon every religion, while there are still others who do not bother about any religion and completely ignore all religion: their excuse is that they have no time to think about religion or to practice religion since they are always engaged with their business and family affairs.
Buddhists belong to the religious group that accepts and appreciates the reasonable teachings of every religion. Buddhists can also tolerate the practices of other religious, cultural traditions and customs, although they may not necessarily wish to emulate them. In other words, Buddhists respect the other man’s views and appreciate other practices without harbouring any religious prejudices. This is called religious tolerance. And if there are certain Buddhists who feel they are unable to appreciate the ways of other religious practices, then the least they could do is to maintain their silence and refrain from any undue criticism: this attitude is very important for peaceful co-existence. This is called sympathetic understanding.
If we study certain incidents, practices, traditions and teachings of Buddhism, then we can understand the basis of our religion and our attitude towards the other religions. Others may say that Buddhists are very passive because of this policy of tolerance, but still, we maintain that this attitude is correct and can be appreciated by every thinking man. To practise a religion we must be honest, sincere, truthful and kind to others: we must avoid deceit and cruelty: and in our relation with others we must be broad-minded.
According to the Buddha, if we adopt aggressive and violent methods to solve our problems, we cannot find the real solution to overcome them. No doubt, we can suppress some troubles and temporarily win the battle as long as our enemies remain weak. But when our enemies get the chance, they will not keep quiet and will not forgive us. Therefore, if we act with violence, we can never find lasting peace. This is why the Buddha once said: “Hatred is never ended by hatred, but only by loving-kindness.” Buddha also said: “It is not that I quarrel with the world but the world quarrels with me. A teacher of truth never quarrels with others.
In Buddhism there is no such thing as righteous indignation or righteous anger: Buddhism never tried to justify war under any circumstances. There were no nervous irritability or emotion or anger in the Buddha’s mind just because some people did not pay attention to him.
The only harsh word that the Buddha ever used was “foolish man”, to point that certain beliefs were wrong.
We have ample evidence to prove that, for the last 2500 years, in the propagation of Buddhism, Buddhists have never ill-treated or used violence against the followers of other religions. The sources of evidence include the original teachings of the Buddha, the actual Buddhist practices and traditions and world history. We have introduced this religion all over the world as a goodwill message. We have introduced this religion without forcing people to embrace it; and we have not shed even a drop of blood – either human or animal – in the name of Buddhism. This is a record in world history – a record which is appreciated by every cultured man anywhere in the world, irrespective of his religious denomination or belief.
The attitude of a real religion must be to advise the people instead of ruling or intimidation.
COMPLETE ARTICLE
WHY RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.pdf
May the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be with you !!!!!
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