[Buddha-l] Buddhism and human rights

[Richard Basham]

It is a Sunday so why not a sermon in a book review? Which forks off
from some of the recent context of Bhutan, etc.

Richard Basham

**

Buddhism and human rights: The journey to the west
The Nation, Jan 12, 2012

Bangkok, Thailand -- The Chinese classic "Journey to the West", based on
the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India, is actually an
allegory of a Buddhist spiritual journey. Also known as Adventures of
the Monkey God, it is a fitting tool to compare Buddhism and Kantian
philosophy.


...

On the other hand, Kantian reasoning, which can achieve enlightened
altruism, can be thought of as the spontaneous Monkey King, symbolising
emerging wisdom (panna). Although he can fly to India and have an
audience with the Buddha (enlightenment), Monkey can never remain there.
His indispensable role is to guide the whole troupe.

...

In "Laws from Buddhist Perspective", Venerable PA Payutto categorises
laws into those imposed to control people and those aimed to facilitate
their welfare, happiness and development. He states, "A law should not
have public order or harmony as its end, but a means to facilitate
improvement of people's lives in order that they can reach higher goals
through learning. The law should be conducive for the development of
human beings, enabling them to live 'the good life' and aspire to higher
virtues."

...

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=10,10680,0,0,1,0