Islam and Buddhism are more alike than you think

Aik TC SG

Jessica Robinson 20 August 2016 Independent Australia‎

Year 12 student, Jessica Robinson, argues that Islam and Buddhism are more alike than you think.

SINCE THE dawn of mankind, humans have attempted to answer the most complex and perplexing questions of the universe through religious beliefs. Questions such as why are we here? How did we come to be?

Religions worldwide set out a set of moral and ethical guidelines on how one should live and interact with the world. This leads to a vast number of teachings on peace and conflict, how to behave when at war and how to avoid it all together.

In today’s world, Islam is seen as one of the most violent and war-like religions. However, this is not the case. Many of their ancient scriptures and teachings from the Quran and from their prophet Muhammad talk of avoiding violence at all costs.

On the other side of the coin, Buddhism is seen as one of the most peaceful religions in the world. By all accounts it is. The Buddha preached love and kindness and the ending of all suffering. However, due to political and religious turmoil, many Buddhists have turned to violence and hate. Buddhist monks are now persecuting Muslims in Burma.

With Buddhism, there is an emphasis on peace and peaceful living but this comes from a focus on suffering and the ending of all suffering. The Four Nobel Truths are the centre of Buddhism. These truths centre around suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering and how one can end suffering. Within Buddhism, there is a large focus on inner peace or “enlightenment”. Once one reaches enlightenment, you no longer suffer and your aim is to ease the suffering of others by aiding them in their path to enlightenment. The very basis of Buddhist teachings is one of peace.

If you wish to end suffering, the most obvious way to do that is to be peaceful.

To learn how Islam strives for peace, you must look to see when it was established and in what political and religious climate. The prophet Muhammad was born into an extremely violent tribal culture. In his thirties, Muhammad experienced “divine revelations” from God which led to the writing of the Quran. In these teachings, Muhammad said that God, or Allah, wished for peace for his people. These teachings also preached patience and kindness. These teachings were alien to pre-Islamic Arabia.

Muhammad advocated a policy of non-violent resistance and like Buddhism, Islamic teachings, at their core, call for peace and patience. The Holy Quran 49:10 states ‘Humanity is but a single brotherhood; so make peace with your brethren.’ The word ‘Islam’ even comes from the world ‘Salam’ meaning ‘peace’.

Today, members and leaders of the Islamic faith actively condemn acts of violence. They speak out against injustices and work together with other Abrahamic faiths in interfaith dialogues to aid the spread of understanding and peace. Muslim communities in Australia are working with the federal and state governments to combat the radicalisation of Muslim youths.

Obviously, the glaring contradiction is terrorist organisations such as Islamic State and Boko Haram. However, these organisations do not work in the name of Allah, or in any way embody the teachings of Muhammad. These contradictions result from a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of Islamic text. With all religious text, one must continually re-interpret it as society evolves.

In reality, the Quran is no more violent than the Christian bible, it just so happens that there are groups of people who insist on taking portions of the Quran out of context to fit their radical agenda.

In the modern world, Buddhism works with many people and religions in an effort towards peace. Organisations such as The Soka Gakkai International is a global movement of people who are connected through Buddhism. They attempt to bring a “revolution of peace” to the world. This organisation has roots leading back to the Cold War where they rallied against the use of nuclear arms. The then president of the organisation, Josei Toda, called for the complete prohibition of all nuclear weapons.

The Soka Gakkai organisation has always said that open dialogue among the various faiths and cultures is the key to peace. They published dialogues with the former soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, Indonesian Muslim leaderAbdurrahman Wahid, and Chinese writer Jin Yong.

Like Islam, there is still the radical sect of Buddhism who insist on interpreting the sacred texts to suit their own agenda. This is never more obvious than with the persecution of Muslims in Burma at the hands of Buddhist monks. The origin of this violence is vague at best and there are disputing claims as to why and when these persecutions began. The persecution included boycotting Muslim business and attacking and killing Muslims.

Some claim that the Buddhists of Burma became angry at the influx of Muslim migrants to the country. Others say that the Buddhist monks became angry at the accumulated wealth of the Muslims, effectively blaming them for the poverty of their own people. Whatever the origin, these events show that no religion is immune from violent extremism. But these episodes of violence should in no way over-shadow the good done by other Buddhists and Buddhist organisations.

It is safe to say, that the goal for every religion is to reach a state of peace, whether it’s inner peace, or world peace. The radical sects of some religions do not speak for these religions as a whole, and the majority of adherents of these religions are appalled at the things done in the name of, say, Allah and Buddha.

Through the teachings of Muhammad, Muslims are instructed to be patient, to be kind to those of differing faiths.

Buddhists have a similar view. They must not cause suffering and should shy away from violence. Much like Muhammad, they preach non-violent resistance.

Many people would be shocked to think of Islam and Buddhism being comparable in any way and yet if you look closely at their teachings, and their efforts towards peace, they are more similar than one may suspect.

Weychin SG

There three mains parts which I'll like to raise;

First, as a Buddhist, I take the belief that people are essentially good, so even in a bad situation, goodness can manifest itself. People do unwholesome or bad thing due to deluded or false views. We try to do kind deeds and good thing when we are all well and good, but when discontent is rife, false views arise. We justify our bad behavior. It takes some contemplation and practice to be a good Buddhist. As if calling oneself a Buddhist will automatically make us instantly good.

Then, there may good religion and bad religion. Also good people, bad people.

But then, there are good religion, bad people. Also, bad religion, good people. Good religion have good teachings, if you do not heed goodness, it is not the religion's fault is it.

Bad religion, good people. If people are not discontent or not all the time angry and indignant , then they are naturally good as they do not need the more extreme excuses or motivations. And yes, I am simplifying things!

Here we have on one side an inclusive and then an exclusionary religion.

One preaches unconditional loving kindness and compassion. The other, if you don't embrace me, you go to hell. Very transactional and conditional love, don't you think!

When Mohammed preached love and tolerance, he was getting no where. Only when he engaged in warfare did Islam finally became widespread, under the sword. In fact, Muslim proselytization are no less violent than the Mongolian conquests.

There is no god, but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger. Whether Mohammed is a flawed person or not is for another debate, he still carries the words of Allah. Then there are abrogations to earlier Quranic verses by Prophet Mohammed, who is the messenger of Allah. I don't see any vigorous denunciations of these verses, only of them as misinterpretations due to the violent times and conditions when the abrogations were made. Perhaps, someone will kindly show fatwas regarding this issue.

From an non Muslim individual point of view, I am an infidel, not people of the book. I can be lied to, killed or forced under the sword to convert, because Allah, through His Messenger, wills it. Then you have Shia taqiyah, which allows deception when Muslims are a minority or under threat to lie. You won't see much indignance when infidels, whichever definition fit the situation, are on the receiving end.

So, perhaps political Islam may well be the proper way of practising. So moral of the story? To trust or not to trust, that is the question!

Sidenote(I don't know what to think, of videos on YouTube of exhortations of "Allah Akbar" every time they fire a missile or shoot somebody, sending someone to his/her Maker, so to speak?!)

Perhaps I seriously flawed and wrong, I would like to be corrected lest I be prejudiced.

Finally, on the Myanmar issue, I feel it is more of a national identity per se than a religious one. Being Buddhist is being a Myanmar national, culturally Burmese if you will. The impression that I was given, perhaps erroneously, was that a lot of Muslims were imported by the British during colonial times, and they are have never assimilated, and they work for the British who exploited the land and people. I put a forward this view as one given to me by an Myanmar national. Even the name Burma was given by the British.

Let's go back to when Myanmar have Kings. The monarchies, employed Muslims soldier mercenaries?) as there personal armies as there are little chance of assimilation, and having the Muslim soldiers subsequently turned against their masters. These Muslims remainly segregated by religion and over time gotten quite well to do under the Royal patronage.

Then the Rohingyas, who are considered interlopers who never left. They came with the British, when given a chance, destroyed Buddhist monasteries, pagodas and homes . Remember, I said Buddhism as part of the cultural identity. These people not only are unable to assimilate, but attempted to destroy the culture heritage. How can there not be bad blood?!

Perhaps you would look up issues such as abrogations in the Koran and taqiyah in the net. Also of rohingyas' history in Wikipedia. I welcome correction to any erroneous, so I may not fall prey to prejudicial views.

At no time do I condone violence by people who called the Buddhists or by donning safron robes make them enlightened and holy. But it does sully the name of Buddhism by lumping the complex issue of cultural and national identity and the essential Buddhism practice.

Jayden99 SG

Religions have no issues, the issue is the false minds. Buddhists should only focus Buddhism on the inherent Tranquility & Patience (means Buddha or Buddhism) which both are the same essence, liken to the unlimited depth, broadness, timeless and omnipresent of space. Buddhists should not be diverted or explain on behalf of other religions but harness the essence of tranquility patience of all beings to regain back this buddha mind of all beings :) Buddha mind is the true identity of all beings and is the supreme culture that forms are an emptiness and emptiness is inseparable of forms.

Weychin SG

Taken the sudden path,eh?!

But for those who have yet to grasp the ultimate truth, leaves them with only relative truths.

Weychin SG

Lest I forget, vigorous do not mean viciousness. They are quite different energies.

Jayden99 SG

Everyone regardless of races, cultures and galaxies can become Buddha or the enlightened one or the Absolute Truth, there is no muslim can become an Allah or an All Merciful. As far as the cause and effect on enlightenment concern is not the same, besides only peace and kindness are alike in earth

Jayden99 SG

Thus when buddhists would to seek inherent Absolute Truth or enlightened one from the external, it is like cooking gravels to become rice. Therefore, the 1255 disciples were always following buddha instead of externalism for 49 years are an awesome example not to deviate from inherent essence. Even when you attainment like Buddha, you also can't change the externalist in this life, but many lifespans later upon condition is ready on the perspective of externalist. And to achieve equality, practice equality amongst the inequality is known as samsara is bodhicitta

Jayden99 SG

Buddhists ought to aware that although all sentience are inherent buddha self, the followers of Islam or non faith never will acknowledge it. Thus no matter how compassionate you are to press the cow head to drink water, the cow that does not want to drink it will never yield favourable enlightening result. So, true peace can only achieve by being peacefully joys & tranquil bliss in pursuit of enlightenment or Amitabha land of ultimate bliss. Engaging or interact joyously relax and serene among buddhists is favourable along the path of enlightenment