Religions, War, and Peace: Buddhism

Brahman

ultimate spiritual reality in Hinduism

Brahman - atman

individual self or soul

Brahman - moksha

liberation from cycle of rebirth

How to reach moksha

understanding atman relationship to Brahman to see true nature of realty

Ahimsa

non-violence/non-harming towards living beings, this includes violent emotions or actions that could lead to someone’s harm

Ahimsa - ghandi movement

respond to injustice with patience and compassion rather than violence, central idea of movement

Karma

actions have consequences

Karma role to moksha

actions influence your spiritual progress, fullfill duty in society

Hindu nationalism

movement that identifies India with only Hindu culture and identity

Hindutva

term from 1920s during British colonialism to define national identity and oppose British and perceived Muslim influence

Hindu nationalism - kashmir

kashmir belongs to India and it should be Hindu despite it being majority muslim

Gandhi India Independence a

civil disobedience: breaking unjust laws and accepting consequences

Gandhi India Independence b

noncooperation: refusing to cooperate with unjust gov

Gandhi India Independence c

peaceful protests and boycotts (salt, boiling own salt)

Gandhi - Satyagraha

truth-force: resist injustice through truth, patience, and willingness

Ideas Gandhi drew on for resistance

ahimsa, karma yoga, barhman, bhagavad gita

Bhagavad Gita story

arjuna (warrior) either has to kill family or disobey role, krishna (as chariot driver) tells him to kill

Bhagavad Gita story - Gandhi interpretation

its not permission to kill whoever, its about internal battle

Ayodha dispute 1 - olence hinduism

Babri Masjid in ayodha believed to be built on hindu temple for Rama (important)

Ayodha dispute 2 - violence hinduism

1992 hindu nationalist mob destroyed mosque and riots killed thousands of people as a result

Kashmir 1 - violence hinduism

when British separated India and Pakistan, Kashmir was undecided

Kashmir 2 - violence hinduism

despite being majority muslim it had a hindu ruler, initially wanted independence

Kashmir 3 - violence hinduism

during 1947 attack from pakistan, Kashmir agreed to join India, after ceasefire it was split between the two

Chenoweth and Stephen argument

nonviolence more likely to succeed than violent resistrance

Civil resistnce examples

protest, boycott, noncooperation, sabotage, defectors, work slow

Why nonviolence is more successful 1

more people can participate because no weapons required

Why nonviolence is more successful 2

more tactics available

Why nonviolence is more successful 3

reduced backlash (not everybody is getting hurt, no continued conflict)

Why nonviolence is more successful 4

seen as more credible when negotiating with oppressors

Why nonviolence is more successful 5

more likely for a democratic outcome

Why nonviolence is more successful 6

easier for loyalties of military and law enforcement to shift