The paradox of Buddhist teachings and it's effect on freedom within the states

[Kjertesvein]

I'm not a professor, nor have I used any medium or internet sources to ask this question. It's more an opinion type-of-thing:

Any sane human being will look at Buddhism and think, "Yeah, it's an OK Philosophy for my my friends to hold. I would much rather have a conservative Buddhist neighbour then a conservative Muslim/Christian/Jewish neighbour."

Not all will agree and I'm clearly going for the stereotypical group, but you should be able to see my general method of idea I'm throwing around here. That is, the stereotypical Buddhist doesn't actively pursue to change your material habits (Hijab, eating pig meat, going to church, political stance on this and that, etc.).

At least, empirically speaking I have never met any Buddhist who tried to actively change my life. On the contrary I've met countless of followers of the Abrahamic cults who have done so.

Holding that idea in the back of my mind - The question then comes rolling, why is there always a hard-core dictator in country's which have Buddhism as a majority religion? Countries which hold a Christian, Jewish and to some degree Muslim majority (specially lately, those people are now sick and tiered of dictatorships, and seeks revolution as seen in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, etc.)

Does religion have any effect on how the government treats the citizens at all? If yes, then what effect do you think it gives?

~Wille

[CiviC]

Maybe Budhists are too passive and accept to easily what they consider fate?

[Enemy of the State]

Maybe Budhists are too passive and accept to easily what they consider fate?

I think that is pretty much it.

[Col. Tartleton]

Maybe Budhists are too passive and accept to easily what they consider fate?

And they're probably right seeing as all governments suck, just some less than others and you have to kill a lot of "innocent" people in order to switch from awful to decent an even then its unlikely to succeed.

Buddhism is pretty nihilistic stuff. Buddhists make poor citizens and good subjects.

[hellheaven1987]

Maybe Budhists are too passive and accept to easily what they consider fate?

Not true; the correct explaination would be each Buddhist is too selfish to care about anything that is not relating to them; after all, Buddhism is not a collective consciousness like Christianity or Islam but a focus of individual purity and training.

[Rolling Thunder]

I'd say that it does tend to promote a degree of political inactivity, or at least can be used more easily to promote that as opposed to political activism compared to other religions (Christianity being founded by a man who was tried and executed as a political dissident).

[Denny Crane!]

Maybe Budhists are too passive and accept to easily what they consider fate?

I think that is pretty much it.

Err nope at least not that I've ever come across. Setting yourself on fire as a political protest doesn't seem to passive.

Not true; the correct explaination would be each Buddhist is too selfish to care about anything that is not relating to them; after all, Buddhism is not a collective consciousness like Christianity or Islam but a focus of individual purity and training.

Ever heard of epicurean philosophy? Is that also selfish? I think the idea of selfishness has been abused by its simplicity.

I'd say that it does tend to promote a degree of political inactivity, or at least can be used more easily to promote that as opposed to political activism compared to other religions (Christianity being founded by a man who was tried and executed as a political dissident).

Again I'd take an example of sinhalese (not something I like but it exists), buddhist activism in China, myanmar and Thailand and more that I haven't thought about to say that for all its effects reducing political activity doesn't seem to be one of them.

Being British on the other hand...

[CiviC]

Err nope at least not that I've ever come across. Setting yourself on fire as a political protest doesn't seem to passive.

With only one flower isn't spring yet (at least this is the proverb in my language, I don't know if it's correct in English).

[Denny Crane!]

With only one flower isn't spring yet (at least this is the proverb in my language, I don't know if it's correct in English).

There isn't just one though, there is a long history of many such incidents and right now Buddhist activism is all over Asia.

Well call it buddhist activism, I just think activism is inherent in humans.

[Rolling Thunder]

There isn't just one though, there is a long history of many such incidents and right now Buddhist activism is all over Asia.

Well call it buddhist activism, I just think activism is inherent in humans.

You have a valid point.

[Kjertesvein]

There isn't just one though, there is a long history of many such incidents and right now Buddhist activism is all over Asia.

I must admit I do not usually follow nor try to understand what's going on at the moment in Buddhist dominating tax-farms. I do know (some of) what kind of government is the staus quo, but off course who knows what really creeps under the woodworks of east Asian freedom.

Can you slam a few well intended (and successful) cases on the table?

We have the Sri Lanka example, but I can't really see who "were the bad guys" or the source of the whole cascade. It's kinds far away, so I have not payed too much attention to niche news lets. I must admit - I had a very good opportunity some years ago (in my dark ages) were I had a golden opportunity to ask question to a enthusiastic and knowledgeable Tamil sympathiser here are TWC. Stupid as a was, I discarded the welcoming opportunity to ask questions.

The Tibet activity seem to me as have been crushed under the heel of China's expansion policy, non-aggressive Buddhist leader and western powers who once supported the movement have now bend their backs over to please China's economic boom (which is entirely predictable and sad in it's self, the trust which is now broken. It only further invalidates any concept of resistance).

Myanmar, ouch. There was some heavy activity, international "freedom" radio broadcaster from Norway, a movie being lunched about what's going on and a handful of prizes being awarded, however. As time goes on, donors have declined and the radio show is shutdown, the movie is forgotten, and the people are once again left to their own devices and even further despair as the motivation drops. Anyone who knows the status?

The Thailand incidents seem to me as nothing more then a catch-ball game between left and right, just as productive as Republicans/Democrats from a distance. Is this true?

Maybe the whole authoritarian thing is just western projection or some form of local/cultural incidents which can be compared with other world examples as not-that-bad, but from right here in my seat - it still looks pretty horrible and grim future. But who knows?

~Wille