[Buddha-l] Buddhism and human rights

[Jo]

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=10,10680,0,0,1,0 
This Buddhist channel sermon provokes thought. Here goes with a few comments
on some lines copied from the article:

"You must avail yourself of men, as of shady trees, considering them fit
objects to resort to. Accordingly, endeavour to extend your glory by showing
them gratitude until your policy ceases to want their use."  ... This
doctrine was rebuked by the future-Buddha as soiled by cruelty and contrary
to Dhamma."
Indeed, but it is also the basis of economic exchange, of labor, product and
coin.

"human dignity can be harmed not only by individuals but also by the states
as well as political, social, economic and cultural institutions." AKA the
politics system.

"set of social-level precepts such as the rights to life, ownership and
family, not to be violated. " But so far as human rights to ownership go,
think of the Supreme Court citizens united ruling--that corporations have
1st amendment human rights = money is speech. 

"The task of articulating a comprehensive vision of what is ultimately
valuable in human life and how it is to be attained falls to the competing
theories of human good found in religions, philosophies and ideologies."
 So far, has anyone published a comparative study on how different
religions' ethics stack up to the universal human rights claims?

"Collective concentration is also the most difficult part for society. To
make human rights reality, Thailand must [etc etc].........." 
 Leaving aside the particular case of one country, "Collective
concentration" is an idea that needs more thought--is this a non-starter
idea? what it is or could be, how to achieve it, how to defend it, ......?
Are we back to the situation of laws of human behavior regulation?
Otherwise only mass hypnosis or trance, or extreme coercion as of armies,
seems to me able to mold a collectivity into social action as one, at least
temporarily. 

Joanna

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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
[............]

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