Buddhism: Attitudes to War

This section explains Buddhism’s attitude to war, focusing on: Causes of War, Buddhist Attitudes to Conflict, Conduct in War, Violence and Violent Protest and Holy War in Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion deeply rooted in the teachings of peace, non-violence, and compassion. The Buddha’s emphasis on reducing suffering and cultivating a peaceful mind shapes Buddhist views on war and violence. However, the causes of war and the complexities surrounding it have led to varying interpretations of Buddhist ethics on this matter.

Causes of War

War is often described as an organised conflict, typically involving intense violence carried out by one state or group against another. The causes of war can be multifaceted and intertwined, and Buddhism offers insight into these underlying causes through its teachings. Three main elements are often cited as potential causes of war:

Greed: Greed, one of the Three Poisons in Buddhism, is seen as a root cause of human suffering and conflict. The Buddha taught that the desire for more—whether for land, power, or resources—can lead to violence and war. Greed fuels the urge to dominate others, and this desire for control often leads to aggression and conflict.

• For example, the British Empire's colonisation of various countries throughout history was driven, in part, by the greed for resources, land, and economic control. This caused widespread suffering and conflict in the colonies.

Self-Defence: Many Buddhists accept the idea that self-defence could justify an armed response, particularly when a nation is under attack. Historically, countries with Buddhist populations, such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, have maintained armies for protection. In cases where the safety of the people is at risk, some Buddhists believe it is acceptable to engage in conflict in order to defend one's homeland.

• For instance, during World War II, Japan’s military, while influenced by Buddhist culture, engaged in conflict to defend its sovereignty and expand its territory. However, some Buddhist leaders later regretted the violence and recognised the moral complexities involved.

Retaliation: The Buddha taught that retaliation only leads to more suffering. Responding to violence with violence perpetuates a cycle of hatred and revenge, resulting in no true resolution. Buddhists are encouraged to break this cycle and adopt a more peaceful approach to conflict.

• Sri Lanka’s civil war, which began in 1983 between the Buddhist-majority Sinhalese government and the Tamil rebels, escalated due to cycles of retaliation and violence on both sides, causing immense loss of life and prolonged suffering.

Buddhist Attitudes to Conflict

Buddhism teaches the importance of avoiding harm and practising kindness (known as metta) towards all living beings. The Buddha’s ethical teachings, such as sati (mindfulness), karuna (compassion), and metta, emphasise the need for peaceful resolutions to conflict, even when faced with anger or hatred from others.

In the Kakacupama Sutta, the Buddha teaches his followers to maintain an attitude of loving-kindness towards others, regardless of how they may behave towards them. For most Buddhists, this teaching leads them to strongly oppose war and violence, as both are seen as causes of suffering rather than solutions.

Buddhism also embraces the principle of karma, which teaches that all actions, whether physical, verbal, or mental, have consequences. Therefore, engaging in violence is seen as "unskilful living," as it leads to negative consequences for both the individuals involved and society as a whole.

Conduct in War

Buddhist ethics do not include a doctrine of Just War, which is found in other religious traditions. In contrast, the Buddha’s teachings prioritise non-violence and peaceful solutions. In the Dhammapada (5), the Buddha says:

“Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is an eternal law.”

Buddhism teaches that violence cannot lead to lasting peace, and even in times of conflict, Buddhists are encouraged to seek peace and reconciliation. Many Buddhists believe that non-violent methods of resolving disputes are the most effective and morally correct approaches.

Despite this, there are times when Buddhists may accept war as a necessary evil, particularly when defending oneself or others from attack. However, such acceptance is often accompanied by deep ethical reflection on the consequences of violence.

Buddhism and Conflict: Historical Contexts

While Buddhism teaches peace, there have been instances in which Buddhists have been involved in conflict or violence. These actions, however, are often seen as departures from the Buddha’s teachings:

Japanese Zen Masters and WWII: During World War II, some Japanese Zen Buddhist leaders supported the actions of the Japanese military, even justifying acts of aggression. These actions have been heavily criticised by other Buddhist leaders who argue that they go against the Buddha’s teachings on compassion and non-violence.

Sri Lanka’s Civil War: In Sri Lanka, a civil war broke out in the 20th century between the Sinhalese Buddhist-majority government and Tamil Hindu rebels. Although the government was predominantly Buddhist, the conflict resulted in immense suffering for both sides and sparked debates within the Buddhist community about the morality of warfare.

Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar: In recent years, there has been violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, a country with a predominantly Buddhist population. Some Buddhist monks and nationalist groups have been accused of inciting violence and hatred against the Rohingya. This has led to international condemnation, as such actions conflict with the Buddha’s teachings on compassion and kindness.

Violence and Violent Protest

The principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) is fundamental to Buddhist ethics and is expressed in the first of the Five Moral Precepts, which encourages followers to avoid causing harm to any living being. As such, most Buddhists support non-violent protest and resist the use of violence to achieve their aims.

However, some Buddhists believe that in certain circumstance, such as in peacekeeping or defending democracy; violence may be acceptable if it prevents greater harm. This view remains a point of contention within the Buddhist community, as it challenges the ideal of non-violence.

Many Buddhists also see terrorism as an act driven by anger, fear, and injustice, but they stress that such violence often exacerbates the problems it aims to resolve, leading to more destruction and suffering.

The Buddha’s teaching on dukkha (suffering) reminds us that life is often unfair, but suffering is not always caused by others. Yet, the Buddha also acknowledged that suffering caused by human actions; driven by greed, hatred, and ignorance, requires moral courage and compassion to address.

Buddhism teaches that using violence to seek justice only creates more suffering, reinforcing the belief that non-violent methods are the most effective means of achieving peace and justice.

In the Dhammapada (201), the Buddha offers the following wisdom:

“Victory brings hate, because the defeated are unhappy. Those who surrender both victory and defeat find joy.”

Holy War in Buddhism

In contrast to other religious traditions, Buddhism does not support the concept of a holy war, where conflict is justified by religious belief or commanded by a religious leader. The Buddha’s teachings emphasise love and compassion for all, including those who disagree with or oppose us. Consequently, the notion of fighting a war for the protection of Buddhist culture or tradition contradicts core Buddhist principles.

Nevertheless, historical instances of Buddhist-led violence; such as those in Japan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar show that despite the Buddha’s teachings, there have been times when Buddhists have been involved in or have supported violent actions. These instances are typically seen as departures from the true spirit of Buddhist doctrine.

While Buddhism advocates for peace, non-violence, and compassion, the realities of human conflict mean that some Buddhists have been involved in war or violence throughout history. However, the core teachings of Buddhism still emphasise that violence is not the path to peace, and that non-violent methods of conflict resolution should always be prioritised. As the Buddha said, the path of love, compassion, and understanding is the only true way to overcome hatred and conflict.