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ASearchforNewDimensionofUniversalBrotherhood Dr.JinabodhiBhikkhu OnthissignificantsacreddayIwouldliketoputforwardcertainproposals andsuggestionstopromoteuniversalbrotherhood.BeforethatIwouldliketo elucidatesomefundamentalprinciplesofBuddhism.Wearehumanbeingshaving extraordinarypotentialities.Noblevirtuesandcriminalnaturearelatentinourminds, spiritsandhearts.Thesemayariseinourlivesatanytimewithoutanyinterference fromexternaloranysupernaturalpower.Thesearedormantwithinusinvarious degrees.Withinourmindswefindatreasurehouseofvirtueandrubbishheapof wickedness.Withtheflourishmentofthesecharacteristics,wemaybecomeeithera blessingoracursetohumanity. Ifwewanttoengageourselvesinthenobleservice ofhumanitywemustendeavorourbesttouprootthelatentevilsbysowingthe dormantseedsofnoblevirtues.Todiscovertheinvaluabletreasureslatentwithinus, patienceandpersistenteffortareunavoidablyneeded.

Eventhepoorestpeoplecan performthistask.Thus,wealthandpowerarenotessentialpreconditionsandpre requisitestotheaccumulationofhumanvalues. Themostdestructiveelementwithinusisanger.Theconstructivevirtue lovingkindnesscaneliminatethisevilforceandennobleus.Thecrueltyisanother vicewhichissolelyresponsibleforhorrorsandatrocitiesprevalentintheworldtoday. Compassionisitsantidote.Jealousyisanothervicethatdestroystheinnersystem ofourminds.Theruinousjealousyleadstodeadlyrivalriesandbloodycompetitions. Themostefficaciousremedyforthisevilpropensityisappreciativejoyandaffection. Theothercharacteristics,whichupsetthementalfacultyofhumanbeings,are attachmenttothepleasurablethingsandaversiontotheunpleasurablethings.The equanimitycaneliminatethesetwocontendingoppositeforces.Thesefourpowerful virtuesmustbecultivated. Thelivingkindnesssoftensourheartsandminds.Insteadofproviding militaryaid,weshouldgivepurelovingkindnesstoofallhumanitywithoutmaking distinctionbetweenmanandmanorbetweenmanandwomen.''Asmotherprotects heronlychildevenattheriskofherownlife,inthesamewayweshouldextend boundlesslovingkindnesstowardsalllivingbeings''.Thisistheassertionofthe Buddha.Therefore,lovingkindnessisnotthepassionateloveofmothertowardsher child.Ourlovetowardsthisuniversemustbeasincerewishandpureloveforthe durablepeaceandallroundwelfareoftheworld.Weshouldextendtheboundless

universalbrotherhood,sisterhoodandspiritofembracingallnations,allraces,all classes,andallcountriesirrespectiveofdifferencesofpoliticalviews. Thelovingkindnessandsincerewishfortheeverlastingpeaceandwelfare oftheworldarenotpoliticalorracialornationalorevenareligiousmatter. Brotherhoodisauniversalconcept.Politicalbrotherhoodisconfinedonlytothose whosharesimilarpoliticalviews.Racialbrotherhoodandnationalbrotherhoodare restrictedonlytothoseofsameraceandnation.Veryoftentoasserttheirracialor politicalsuperiority,theyresorttobrutalwarfareandkillingofpeoplebymercilessly bombing.ThepatheticincidentsoftheSecondWorldWararestriking,unforgettable examples. Humanviolenceandterrorismshouldbedenouncedonceandforalland harmoniousrelationsshouldbeestablishedanddevelopedamongthepeopleof differentfaiths. TheBuddhasaid,''Hatredneverceasesthroughhatred,buthatredceasesby lovealone.Thisistheeternallaw.Aslovingkindnessisaconstructivepeaceful force,whichhasthepowertocounteractdestructive,unwantedinfluences,justas hatefulthoughtscanproduceunhealthy,unsoundmentalandphysicaleffects.The Buddhaemphaticallystatedtheimportanceofmoralityasatrusttoovercome tensions,chaos,confusionsandsufferings.Selflessness,lovingkindnessand harmlessnessornonviolenceisinvaluable. Today'sworldisfullofmiseries,warwearinessandviolence.Theworldis sufferingalot.Humanlivesareindangerandfrightenedbythearmsrace.These weaponsarealwaysreadytokillmanyhumanlivesinthetwinklingofaneye.In fact,theworldisabsolutelyinneedofthisuniversallovingkindness,unbounded compassion,intensejoy,greatforbearanceandrightvisioninordertoliveinone worldinperfectpeaceandharmonyinthesenseofbrothersandsisters.Weshould generatepurestsincerelovetoeliminatetheenemiesoftheworld.Weshould developinvaluablecompassiontoremovethewoesofnations,whichinasenseis cruelty.Weshouldenhanceoverwhelmingjoytoprotectusfromthepersonsof jealousy.Weshoulddevelopthementalstatusofmantoeliminateattachmentto andaversiontounpleasurablesituations.Onthecontrary,intheworldtoday,from thematerialisticpointofview,alltechnology,industry,machineryarewelldeveloped. BuddhaaskedComeandseewhatIsayIfyoufindsomethingacceptable youcanacceptgladlyandifyoudonotfindsomethingvaluable,youcanleave withouthesitation,Buddhassuchexplanationisnotcompulsion.ButIfeelthe

younggenerationoftodaymustbebroughtwithinthelightofBuddha'steachings undersomecompulsion,thatis,undercompulsoryreligiouseducation.Theymust beinspired,encouragedandgearedupforthepracticeandpropagationof Buddhism.Islamiccommunityoftheworldhasalreadyintroducedcompulsory prayersandcompulsoryreligiousactivities.WemustfollowinstancesofIslamic compulsoryreligiousactivities.TheteachersandlearnersofBuddhismmustbe spirituallyenhanced.TheymustbehighlyeducatedinthesubjectofBuddhism.The youngpeoplearelackinglovingkindness,compassionandnoblefeelings.Theyare makingmaterialprogressintheageofscienceandtechnology.Butmentalprogress isverymuchneededforthem.Throughseminarsallreligiousleaders,thinkersand spiritualteachersshouldstandunitedlyunderthereligiousflagandstartdrawingthe attentionofalltheBuddhistcountriesoftheworldsothattherisksofnuclearwarcan bestoppedandrealpeace,securityandharmonycanberestored.Sowemust dedicateourlifetothewelfareofallhumanbeings.Weshouldliveahealthyand contentedlife.Weshoulddevotemoretime,moreenergyforthewelfareoftheworld atlarge. Weshouldchangeandimprovetheentireeducationsystemofeverycountry especiallytheBuddhistcountries.Weshouldplan,teachandlearnmoraleducation, culturaleducation,religiouseducation,spiritualeducationaccordingtotheneedsand requirementsoftherespectivecountry.Soallspiritualandreligiousleadershaveto meetonacommonplatform.Weshouldwinangerthroughkindness,wickedness throughgoodness,selfishnessthroughcharityandfalsehoodthroughtruthfulness. ThisistheassertionoftheBuddha.Onaccountofdifferentfaithsorviews,ifwe cannotmeet,standandwalkonacommonplatformlikebrothersandsisters,the missionsofteachersormanyleaderswouldfailinbringingthedesiredfruitfulresult fortheworld. Inastrictsensewemustadoptfollowingstepsforthepromotionand propagationofBuddhism: 1. Dedicationofourlifetothewelfareofallsentientbeings,workingforpeace, disarmamentandinternationalbrotherhood. 2. Livingfrugal,healthyandcontentedlife,soastodevotemoretime,more energyforpeaceandforthewelfareofalllivingbeings.

3.

Abstinencefromanyactionleadingtodisputesandwars.Performanceof anyactionleadingtopeace,harmonyandinternationalunderstanding.

4.

Respectforthelifeofallsentientbeings,respectforthelifeofourplanet,for thepurityofourenvironment.

5.

Peacefulcoexistence,mutualunderstandingandcooperationinthespiritof internationalharmony. ThereareseveralimportantwaysbywhichwecanpromoteBuddhist

education. Theseareasfollows: 1. Toeducateyouthstoleadvirtuouslivesandtopropagatethesublime doctrinesofBuddhathroughlectures,books,periodicalsandmagazinesand newspapers. 2. 3. Toestablishschools,universitiesandorphanages. ToformstudycentersattheBuddhistmonasteriesandothersociocultural organizations. 4. 5. ToprintBuddhistpublicationseithermonthly,quarterlyorannually. DeservingstudentsfrompoorBuddhistcountriesshouldbegivenall opportunitiesinconnectionwithhigherstudiesintheinstitutionsofdeveloped BuddhistCountries.Thesestepswillpromoteunity,solidarityanduniversal brotherhoodamongBuddhists. Nowmysuggestionsandproposalsareasfollows: 1. Soundeducationandpropermethodsofpracticearenecessarytospread Buddhismaroundtheworld 2. BuddhistmonksmustbewelltrainedinthefundamentalteachingoftheLord Buddha. 3. AWorldBodyoftheBuddhistsmustbeformedtosuperviseandguideworld wideBuddhistactivities. 4. ACentralMonetaryFundundertheWorldBodyofBuddhistsshouldbe createdtomeettheexpensesinmaterializingallaimsandobjectives.

5.

ArrangementstohelpmateriallypoorBuddhistsbutrichinBuddhistcultural heritagebemadethroughtheWorldBody.

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DevelopedBuddhistcountrieslikeJapan,China,Koreaetc.arerequestedto comeforwardtothisend.

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ThestudentsofpoorBuddhistcountriesshouldbeassistedmateriallyfor highereducation.

8. 9. 10.

PlansmustbepreparedtoprotectBuddhistheritagesofanycountry. BhikkhuTrainingCentersshouldbeestablishedinsuitableplaces. BooksandTreatiesonBuddhismincludingTipitakainEnglishtocopewith modernthinkingmustbewrittenandpublishedprofuselyforthepublic.

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WheneverinjusticestandsinthewayofhumanrightsofBuddhistpeople, protestshouldbevoicedunanimouslyfromappropriateforums.Atpresent alarmingsituationprevailsinNepal,wherethegovernmenthasdiscriminately disapprovedtheestablishmentofaBuddhistUniversityinthebirthplaceof theBuddha,thegreatadvocateofpeace.Itistimetostandbytheconcerned peopleandpersuadethegovernmentconcernedtocooperatewiththenoble causeoftheBuddhistsofNepal.

12.

ArrangementsforpilgrimagetoholyplacesinIndia,Myanmarandother Buddhistcountriesshouldbemadeofficiallyandtherebyfriendlytiesand mutualunderstandingbeenhanced.

13.

BuddhistUniversitiesandotherTechnicalCollegesmustbeestablishedfor thedevelopmentofBuddhistsinsuitableplaces. BangladeshwasanintegralpartofVangaorancientBengal. Basedonthe

Palitextrecords,oneoftheforemostdisciplesoftheBuddha.Vangisawashailed fromthispart.BuddhismwasflourishinginBangladeshduringtheperiodofEmperor
rd Asoka(3rdCenturyB.C.).ButtheNagarjunainscriptionsofAsokadatingfrom3

centuryA.DprovedthatthisfaithwasfollowedinBangladeshunderAsoka'srule. ThenameofVangawasmentionedintheseinscriptionswheremanyCeylonese monkshadbeenfoundinpropagatingBuddhisminthispart. Somyaboveproposalsandsuggestionscanbestbeimplementedin BangladeshaswellasinotherBuddhistandnonBuddhistcountriestorestoreand

regaintheglorioustraditionandculturalheritageofBuddhism.Thesewillalsogoa longwayinpromotinguniversalbrotherhoodwhichwearelookingforwardto achieve. Mayallpervadingpeaceprevailineverycorneroftheworld. Mayallbeingsbepeacefulandhappyforever. YoursintheDhamma. (Dr.JinabodhiBhikkhu) Chairman&AssociateProfessor DepartmentofOrientallanguages UniversityofChittagong Chittagong,Bangladesh. President BuddhistResearchandPublication CenterBangladesh. DeputyAbbot ChittagongBuddhistMonastery. MobileNo.+880188095371 Fax:+88031726310,714113 Email:jinabodhi@yahoo.com

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