Buddhism and the Modernity

Buddhism is about “awakening”, “enlightening”, and “truth”. There are several aspects to talk about Buddhism about its comparability with modern world. While the world has been tremendously changed, the essence of Buddhism has always been seen up to date and it is a right responding to those changes. From his effort, Buddha was acknowledged on his cognitive learning and succeeding all knowledge. He enrolled in different courses at schools of thought and he achieved them all. Finally, he intuitively learned by invading into his personal physical and mental sphere. He achieved them eventually.

The popular knowledge on modern world would be Politics, Economics and Socials.

1. For the political advancement, Buddha pointed out individual dependency. The teaching of Kamma is about adjusting from wrong to right such as action in physical control, mental control and verbal control. But since the primal, people are pertaining their own tendency and belief. It is hard to take away those tendency from them. That why the first mission Buddha advised to his Bhikkhus is to travel near and far, in different way, to teach to the people beautifully and simply from the beginning, to the middle and to the ending for the benefit of many, for the prosperity of mankind….those who have less dust in their eyes will see the Dhamma…you are not in vain in putting an effort.

Or we can say teach them with both reason and visualized example to change the belief and perception in Kamma. Kamma in Buddhism is different from Kamma in Hinduism (god-oriented destiny ព្រហ្មលិខិត) as in Buddhism is (human-oriented destiny មនុស្សលិខិត). From this point of view, the endurance for civil rights and liberty, liberal democracy, and civic engagement etc. have been responding to the teaching of self-centered approach expounded by Lord Buddha 2557 years ago.

2. For economics advancement, the concept of good corporate citizens, or economic of sustainability etc. are just a way Buddha taught long time ago. The simple life of Bhikkhus is the reflective way for the greed of business corporations. The love of nature, mountain and forest Buddha rejoiced the most is the sign of how important to balance between subtraction of natural resources to answer the demands of human beings but it must not be at the brink of destroying human beings. Four necessities introduced by Buddha such as Clothes, Food, Shelter and Medicine are just in need but not in greed.

3. For social advancement, Buddha advocated for larger justice by making yourself enlightenment. There is conundrum of justice interpretation of the present world; but Buddha seems conveyed Nibbana as the absolute justice.

Peace,
Sophoan