Mettā as a Value of Multicultural Society: Buddhist Ethical Study · SBAM Repository

Title

Mettā as a Value of Multicultural Society: Buddhist Ethical Study

Author

Ashin Nandācāra

Type

Dissertation

Format

PDF

Language

English

Subject

Buddhist Studies

Place

Mandalay

Publisher

Sitagu Buddhist Academy Mandalay

Rights Holder

Sitagu Buddhist Academy Mandalay

Abstract

This dissertation paper titled "Mettā" means loving-kindness is based on the perspective of the teachings from religious treatises. It describes all about Mettā within a society or a country by showing the story that the Buddha taught all about Mettā in Mettā Sutta and how the effect of Mettā worked to solve the problems between the guardian spirits of trees and recluse monks and the connection between the teachings of the Buddha and social works to move smooth and peaceful coexistence forward. The cooling effect of Mettā is mostly illustrated with cool water or the full moonbeam. The cool water or the full moonbeam can effect on the conflict that happens somehow but it cannot make peace yet. Only with Mettā exists in the heart of the people, the peace would settle quietly. More examples of that, water is cool, cooler than that is the full moonbeam, but the coolest of all is real Mettā, so as it is the saying. The best string to bind between friendships is Mettā tie; no other string is stronger than Mettā. Only by the help of Mettā can make the world peaceful and happy among human societies. For that reason, the research illustrates Mettā or loving kindness to be endowed with in each of our individual heart. On the other hand, most people in the world are overwhelmed by greed, anger and ignorance for certain reasons, so it is of vital importance for a person to be endowed with Mettā or loving kindness to put out the fire of greed, anger and ignorance in the problems between societies or countries as well. Especially, the leaders of a society of a country are supposed to practice this Mettā on their leadership to be more effective. Because, Mettā is the main factor to build a united multicultural society, a country of interfaith in harmony. People first have to cultivate Mettā genuinely and share or send one another by targeting to certain persons. That is how Mettā is dealt with in a society or a country. In fact, this is according to the teachings of the Buddha referred to Mettā Sutta.

KEYWORDS: Mettā (Loving-kindness) Multicultural society, Peace, Civil war, Natural resources