Peace! where art thou ?

We all cry for peace especially when we are troubled by war, famine, poverty, terrorism, etc. But peace does not come to u and even if it comes, it finds no place to stay and so soon goes away.
"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as in heaven" said Jesus, but he was crucified. Socrates tried to reform the youth pf Athens but he was made to drink hemlock (a person) Buddha, who may rightly be called the light of the world, and the Lord of Peace had to face more than one hundred attempts to end his life or to defame him. Gandhi, an apostle of truth and nonviolence, was shot dead by a fanatic hindu. The four martyrs of Shahid Gate remind us how dangerous it is to speak out the truth.
This is what is happening in our world. Who wants here peace, anyway ?
If a man is given a chance to choose between war and peace, and if he thinks he is stronger then his adversary he will rather choose war. For a major part of the man is the beast in him.

The Value of family

The reason why we miss the family we have left behind is that at home there is love for one another. It is where the love of mother and father, the love of elders brothers and sisters anf younger siblings, and the love of one's spouse, children and close neighbors are all deeply embedded. It is a place of mutual affection, where all relationships and affinities are brought together through mutual love. This makes you want to cherish each and every member of your family. It is the yearning and desire of any wanderer who has left his family behind to reappear boldly before his family one day as a liberated being, and to embrace mountains, streams and trees, love his friends and relatives, and sing songs of ecstasy.
However, the situation of humankind, descended from the fall, has been different banished from their hometown and destined to wander in isolation and defeat, human beings are unable to go back, no matter how much they miss their family, for they have lost the root of the heart of their original homeland.
However, with the ushering in of the era of a new heaven and a new earth after the coming of heaven, human beings have been pulled out of the swamp that was sucking them down, and the way has been opened for them to return their hometowns - hometowns that they could not for given for a moment - and meet with their family. Could there be a day of greater blessing for humanity ? The rime of heavenly power and fortune has now come, a time to reestablish the original family that was lost through the fall of Adam and Eve.

Humanistic Buddhism Applied in Domesticity and community

In Nepal, especially in the Kathmandu Valley and its neighbourhood, Bahals and bahils (special Buddhist residential areas) are in existence in Shakya and Bajracharya Communities which clearly signify that they are particular lay Buddhist who have direct connections with Buddhism applied in domesticity and Community.
'Sangha' concept of Buddhism is duly applied in way of life of Shakya and Bajracharya inhabitants of those bahals and bahils. Shakyas and Bajracharya Communities of Nepal live in their Buddhist Culture and Customs which are alive and have been handed down from generation generation. Shakya and Bajracharya from communities live in their particular bahal and bahils following their own code of conduct and discipline through age-old rites and rituals and customs. The inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley are exhibiting their devotion and feeling of respects for Buddhism as a way of life rather than just religion. In Sangha system, Shakya and Bajracharya work to decide in community with fellow beings in anything. Such a practice reminds us of Santhagara system of Kapilvastu, Kingdom of Buddha's time. The Santhagara system applied by Shakya Kingdom of Kapilvastu was in fact a crude form of modern day parliamentary system.
Shakya and Bajracharya communities and other Buddhists gave humanistic approach to Buddhism by giving concrete forms to their devotion, dedications, religious feelings and views for the cause of Buddhism and its prepagation by creating beautiful arts and architecture, idols, images, painting and carving etc. Even today, they are upholding Sanghadana and Panchadana (offerings) to their Sangha (Community). A unique Buddhist custom of Chudakarma or prabajya (ordination) is a compulsory ritual that a Shakya and Bajracharya boy should undergo. It is an age-old practice of Buddhist Community of Shakya and Bajracharya with symbolic significance, the act of reminiscence to cherish the memory of the prince Siddhartha's great renunciation, prior to long march of 'Mahabhiniskramana' to enlightenment. This ritual also reminds us ofBuddha's serene and pure life of righteousness and dharma until his Mahaparinirvana and motivates to observe such a pure life at least for a few days. Besides, in those communities, there have been traditions of raciting Buddhists sutras and lines from sacred books and worshipping them regularly. There have been customs in the valley of Kathmandu to amke round trips to Buddhist monasteries and temples on the auspicious days and months and performing of indegenous dances of Buddhist deities

Humanistic Buddhism reflected in our way of life

T'zi Hsu, Master (1899-1947) and Ta Hsing, Master (1900-1952) were early reformers of modern Chinese Buddhism and proponent of humanistic Buddhism.

In Chinese history, many Buddhist monks did not keep themselves confined to monasteries to conduct rituals and they came out to serve human beings. Great monk Fotuchen took risks in attempt to soften Cruelty of rulers. T'an Yao built and stocked a granary to help people in times of famine. Asvaghosa (100-160) and Siladitya (7th Century) Composed dances and worte Buddhist poems and plays. We find beautiful descriptions of Buddha in the Sutra.

From the very early years, we can find practical application of humanistic Buddhism reflected in way of life, customs, culture and tradition of people although the term 'humanistic' and Nuns and lay Buddhists revered Buddhism by developing and introducing rites and rituals, traditions and festivals in their communities. To make Buddhism alive and lively, they took humanistic approach by creating Buddhist art and architectures, Buddhist dances, musical core etc.

All such prevalent activities of Buddhist people have added flavors in Buddhist practices which made Buddhism 'Living Buddhism' with humanistic touch.

Humanistic Buddhism for Peace and Harmony in the World

The state of mind is reflected in our speech, behaviour and action that have impact on day to day life, way of dealing with others. Mind precedes actions which may be good or evil and the consequences of such action are inevitable.

As dharmmapada says, misguided and misdirected mind does to a person a greater harm then a bitter enemy. A well directed mind does to a person far greater god then one's parents one's kinsmen. Though one should conquer a million men in the battlefiled, yet he indeed is the noblest victor who has conquered himself.

Realizing these truths one should try to practise self restraints and self realization which help bring peace in mind.

Humanistic Buddhism relates 'dharma' to humanity and gives stress on the development of human values, human rights so to create a world of harmony, and peace. Humanistic Buddhism envisages a world which should be a symbol of unity in diversity and diversity in unity as a beauty, the fountain of world peace. The incessent effort of buddhist world should be to work with other religious faiths and associations working for peace to make people realize, the indispensability of peace for a better and safer world to live.

Twelve Question for Introspection

In order to advance good merit and elevate our moral character, we must constantly ask ourselves the following twelve questions as a means of introspection and reflection. ;
1. Since I am a member of human society, what have I done to benefit my fellow human beings ?
2. Have I tried my best to repay generosity and kindness of my parents and teachers ?
3. Have I returned the many favors that others have bestowed upon me ?
4. Have I done anything to bring harm to my parents, family, friends, teachers or society ?
5. Since others have provided me with good causes and conditions in areas of daily necessities, have I done the same for them ?
6. Do I truly understand the meaning of rebirth ?
7. Have I taken a good look at myself and counted how many times a day I have travelled to hell and back ?
8. Can I explain how my action and thoughts have revolved around greed, hatred, ignorance and jealously ?
9. In self-examination, what are the first three things that I reflect upon ?
10. How can I attain a life of true happiness without attachment ?
11. How can I eradicate defilement, worries and ignorance to rediscover my Buddha nature ?
12. How can I plan my life so I can have good causes and conditions here and now ?
It is clear that the twelve questions were designed to help us improve ourselves in the areas of interpersonal relationship, because in today's society, egoism prevails over altruism, and self-interest takes precedence over the welfare of others. There are simply too many people nowadays who have placed their own interest above that of the country and society, which has led to all kinds of corruption and social illness. Instead of examining their own thoughts and actions, they choose to blame others for their own pitfalls. Some even go far as to blame fate for their misfortune. What they fall to realize is that the real problem lies within them. Their misery and suffering are caused by their ignorance of what is truly right and wrong.
Sixth Patriarch Huineng once said, "By having a good lot without a good heart, one's good fortune will be short-lived; by having a good heart without a good lot, one's life will be well provided for; by having neither a good heart nor a good lot, one's life will be impoverished forever." In Buddhism, there are many examples of those who were not endowed with talent, but attained enlightment with hard work, and there are those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but have wasted away their good fortune eith selfish acts and intentions. For example, Devadatta, cousin of the Buddha, selfishly attempted to murder the Buddha and destroy the Sangha. Therefore, we must be careful of our actions and intentions, because we will reap the fruits of what we sow. No matter how advanced science and technology may be, we must first demand the most of ourselves and strengthen our moral character for the sake of survival in this world of chaos.
We must be introspective and reflect upon our actions and volition in order to cultivate good causes and conditions for the betterment of our lives. By constantly asking ourselves "The Twelve Question of Life," we will be able to elevate ourselves to a higher level of fulfillment.

Religion

This 21st Century world is threatened by the Culture of violence, proliferation of various kinds of nuclear and other sophisticated and conventional weapons, landmines, cluster munitions, chemical and biological weapons. In 2007 only, 5426 casualities caused by mines, ERW (explosive remnants of war) and IEDs (Improvised explosive device) were recorded in 78 countries including 14 countries in Asia_Pacific region like Afghanistan, Combodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDr, Mangolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri-Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam which account for 45% of the total record.

Military expenditure for production, stock piling of weapons and arms race risen sharply with the record of death by different kinds of weapons, 1000 average a day and disarmament and non-poliferation treaty are on the verge of collapse. Global economy has faltered and the world's population continues to live in poverty where as world military spending in 2008 reached a new high, $ 1,464, trilion.

Such ahuge amount of money could have been spent for delvelopment to fight against poverty, diseases, hunger, illiteracy, scarcity and famine prevalent in the world and to provide basic need of food, medicines, drinking water, electricity and education . Besides, problems like abuse of drugs, child labour, sexual abuse of children and women and crime against women, unemployment and corruption etc are rampant.

Blame for such a crisis, chaos, conflicts and adverse situations goes mainly to discrimination, injustice, inequality and narrow attitude of people caused by irrational and radical ways of thinking and narrower feeling about race, region and community etc.
Because of ignorance, delusion and misleading notions on religion, faith, conviction and concepts, the number of extremist groups, which have taken the route of violence and terror has shown the rising trend creating disorder, disharmony and struggle within families, communities, society, state, region and the world itself.
In this critical time, when the culture of showing no concern for others is grasping gradually, the root question before us is the survival of humanity. We have two choices before us; walk either along a path of harmony, peace and cooperation or along a track of disharmony, conflict and war. All these depend on what we decide to do and avoid.
One thing we should take deep in mind that the sages, saints, spiritual and great religious teachers, social workers and people of conscience from all walks of life of all ages have longed for and strived to work for peace and peaceful co-existence witha dream to achieve heavenly abode in this very world. In this modern day context, the only way to survive is to practise peace philosophy as envisaged by Shakyamuni, the Buddha who taught the world about the four sublime states of mind-loving-kindness, Compassion, Altruistic joy and Equanimity.
The word, 'Peace' should be interpreted in the broadest- sense as Albert Einstein said, 'Peace is not merely absense of war but the presenc of justice of law of order-in short of government, Problems, Difficulties, agitation, sufferings, troubles etc. what people are facing today, are, in fact created by themselves i.e. by their own distorted and disturbed minds, impurities, temptations, desires, cravings, rivalries, attachment, hatred, ignorance etc. All the things that we see of feel are able to generate thoughts in our minds which may be wholesome or unwholesome. It is necessary to realize dhamma in true sense to make our minds free from unwholesome thoughts. We should be able to realize a real, 'dhamma' and settle it in our mind to bel able to enjoy bliss of Sukhabati Bhuvan (The pure) land of Amitabh Buddha.