Buddhist Attitude to Politics

Kūṭadanṭa and Aggañña Sutta are very important as far as Buddhist Attitude to politics. According to Kūṭadanṭa sutta, one country was full of many trouble people. It means Dassukhila in Pāli. If we take society as the physical body, the trouble oppresses like a thorn in our body. Then it makes many problems until eliminate it.

At the time, the Bodhisatta advised the king like that; “You should not do such a killing sacrifice. You have to do organize the society step by step according to following progress, in Pāli Saṅvidhāna”. First one is Kasigorakkha-bījabhatta. There are people engaged in agriculture. They have to maintain animals. Without animals, they can’t do that agriculture. For those, you have to distribute seed and food. Second one is Vānijja-Pabhata. In consequence of agriculture, in your country, there are many people engaged in trading. For those, you have to provide capital to trade easily. The last one is Rājaporisa-Bhattavetana. There are many people serve in the government. For those, you have to give proper living salaries and food in order to serve happily.read more

These steps are very important to eliminate our troubles and to develop our countries. In consequence of these three steps, in your country, all conditions will be developed. Then subjects, being intent on their own occupation, will not disturb the kingdom. So this is very important as far as Buddhist attitude to Politics.

In Aggañña Sutta, the Buddha explained the origins of social aspects like politics, economic, etc. It is method of some scientific ideas through this story. In order to explain them, the Buddha used this story used by common people. In this world, there are two aspects; Saṃvaṭṭ-destry and Vivaṭṭa- beginning.

After destroying this world, beings are most born in the Abhassara Brahmā world. After long time, this world begins to expand again. The beings pass away from that Brahmā world and are mostly reborn in this world. Then they saw the savoury earth and ate it. After taking it, their self-luminance disappeared. Because of disappearing it, the moon and the sun appeared. After disappearing savoury earth, mushrooms, creepers appeared step by step. After that, rice appeared. Due to eating it a long time, their bodies became coarser and developed sex-organs. Then they indulged in sexual activity and started family life. They gathered rice for both meals, two days, three days etc because of greed. So, they divided up the rice into paddy fields with boundaries.  Owing to the appearance of private property, some evil deeds; stealing, etc became in the society. So they elected one person to prevent from doing these bad manners. At the time, Mahāsamata is as fast regular title to be introduced. Khattiya, Rāja, Brahmin, Jhāyaka, Ajjhāyaka, Vessa, and Sudda became to be the regular title for such people. These are origins of human life and Buddhist Attitudes of ethic and politics.So these suttas are very important as far as Buddhist Attitude to Ethics and Politics.