2 Misunderstandings:
Not concerned with this life, this world
About individual salvation
Nikayas & Agamas literature in early Buddhism
No reference to transcending the world to escape suffering
deva Rohitassa asks Buddha, Buddha denies possible to escape by traveling
5 Aggregates (see below)
5 sense desires
Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Skin (all subject to disintegration)
Culamalunkyovada Sutta
Buddha discusses what is undeclared and what is declared
Undeclared because they are not connected with final goal
Suffering, Cessation of Suffering, Path to Cessation all declared
3 Kinds of Worlds
Physical
Sentient beings (realms)
5 Aggregates
Attachment (grasping) to 5 aggregates is source of suffering
3 manifestations: this is mine (craving), this I am (conceit), this is myself (self-entity)
Transcendence of the world through complete comprehension
Must have right view (Kaccayanagottasutta)
Takes place in mind while living in physical world (negates 1st misunderstanding)
Not focused on individual
Buddha avoided parinirvana to teach for 45 years
Buddha sent out disciples to teach
Observance of precepts protects each other
Social Issues
Due to theory of causality
Vedic History of Varnas
Brahmana - from mouth of Creator - agents of instructions (gods)
Ksatriya - from hands - defenders of nations (warriors)
Vaisya - from thighs - farmers and traders (laity)
Sudra - from feet - menial laborers (slaves)
Buddha taught social status based on wealth not caste
Equal opportunity for spiritual development
Buddhism denies Creator
Experience shows theory not true
Brahmana born and mothers feed them
Historical arguments
People chose own path, castes, through natural process
Bhikkhu Bodhi
Craving is origin of suffering - Buddha
"From craving comes search for profit, from seeking comes the gain of profit, from gain comes discrimination, thence comes desire and lust, thence attachment, possessiveness, selfishness, hoarding. From hoarding many evil things such as using weapons, quarrels, conflicts, slander, and falsehood" (Mahanidana Sutta)
Corporate world reduces people to consumers, inflaming egotism and selfish interests.
Cannot distinguish true happiness from sensual gratification
Think that peace means absence of conflict
Identify freedom with license to whatever we wish, follow any impulse
Security as protection from external harm, walling ourselves away from society and building anxiety
Buddha teaches real happiness, peace, freedom, security is attained by overcoming mental factors that bind us to suffering.
Buddhism teaches giving, loving kindness, patience, compassion
Noble Eightfold Path is personal journey that impacts society at large.
Economic Growth Not Desirable
"Rising tide lifts all boats" is false. Gap between rich and poor is growing
Growth dismantles society, opting for profits (small farms to large cash crops, and big box stores shutting down the mom-n-pops)
Industrial grown undermines culture and spiritual grown - everyone driven to profits
Fundamental concept to be applied is Dhamma as taught by the Buddha
Any economic or social policy must be guided by ethical norms. Not subjective judgments but real laws written into the very fabric of being.
Each person should aim to promote the good of the greater unit
6 principals of harmony and respect taught by Buddha
Loving kindness in thought, word, and deed
Sharing righteous gains
Observing a common code of morality
Holding in common liberating views
tanha = craving
mana = conceit
ditthi = self-entity
varna = caste
sva-dharma = caste assignments by Creator
5 forms (no creator)
deva = gods
manussa = human beings
tivacchana = animals
pettivisaya = ghosts
nerayika = beings in hell