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Buddhism: Peace and Conflict

Buddhist attitudes to war

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The Sammaditthi Sutta on skilful and unskilful action, the Kakacupama Sutta's simile of the saw, Japanese Zen in the twentieth century, Sri Lanka, Tibetan views on fighting China, and serving without fighting.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What do Buddhists teach about war?

Key term

Who taught the Sammaditthi Sutta, and what does its title mean?

Key term

What does the Sammaditthi Sutta teach about skilful and unskilful action?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What do Buddhists teach about war?

    Model answer

    Buddhists teach that war causes vast suffering and is rooted in greed, hatred and delusion. Most Buddhists see war as a failure of wisdom and compassion.

  2. 2

    Who taught the Sammaditthi Sutta, and what does its title mean?

    Model answer

    The Sammaditthi Sutta was taught by Sariputta, one of the Buddha's chief disciples. The title means the discourse on right view.

  3. 3

    What does the Sammaditthi Sutta teach about skilful and unskilful action?

    Model answer

    In the Sammaditthi Sutta, Sariputta explains that killing, stealing and harsh speech are unskilful. Unskilful actions have their roots in greed, hatred and delusion.

  4. 4

    How can the Sammaditthi Sutta be applied to war?

    Model answer

    War involves killing and hatred, which the sutta names as unskilful. Right view sees that such actions lead to suffering for all involved.

  5. 5

    What does the simile of the saw in the Kakacupama Sutta teach?

    Model answer

    The Buddha said monks must not feel hatred even if bandits sawed them limb from limb. A monk who grew angry would not be following his teaching.

  6. 6

    How does the Kakacupama Sutta apply to fighting?

    Model answer

    The sutta teaches that a Buddhist should meet even extreme violence with a mind of loving kindness. Hatred and retaliation are never the Buddhist response.

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