levo

Buddhism: Peace and Conflict

Buddhist pacifism and passive resistance

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The Five Precepts and the Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta, Ashoka's non-violence, the Burmese monks of 2007 and the upturned alms bowl, Tibetan resistance, Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, and why some reject strict pacifism.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Why are many Buddhists pacifists?

Key term

How do the Five Precepts support pacifism?

Key term

What does the Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta teach about violence?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why are many Buddhists pacifists?

    Model answer

    Pacifism is the belief that violence and war are always wrong. Many Buddhists hold this view because the First Precept forbids harming any living being.

  2. 2

    How do the Five Precepts support pacifism?

    Model answer

    The First Precept forbids killing, and the Fourth forbids the lies that often stir up hatred. The precepts guide a Buddhist away from the harm on which war depends.

  3. 3

    What does the Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta teach about violence?

    Model answer

    The Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta describes purity of body as living with weapons laid down. The pure person is full of compassion for all living beings.

  4. 4

    What is the history of pacifism in Buddhism?

    Model answer

    Pacifism has been part of Buddhism since the Buddha taught non-violence in the fifth century BCE. The Emperor Ashoka renounced war in the third century BCE after conquering Kalinga.

  5. 5

    How did Ashoka put Buddhist non-violence into practice?

    Model answer

    Ashoka replaced conquest by force with "conquest by Dhamma". Ashoka built hospitals, dug wells and sent out teachers of the Dhamma.

  6. 6

    What is passive resistance?

    Model answer

    Passive resistance is opposing an unjust ruler or law by non-violent means. Protesters refuse to co-operate but do not use force.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Catholic Christianity: Catholic Beliefs
Catholic Christianity: Living the Catholic Life
Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the Family
Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and Death

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

The Act also made compulsory.
monogamypolygamydivorce

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AOmnipotent means all-powerful.
BBenevolent means all-loving and wholly good.
CEternal means existing without beginning or end.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Miri means worldly or political authority.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Buddhism: Peace and Conflict, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.