Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare
by Ashin Indacara | 2011 | 61,386 words
This page relates 鈥業ntroduction鈥� of the study on the Buddhist perspective on the development of Social Welfare, employing primarily the concepts of Utthana-sampada (persistent effort) and Arakkha-sampada (watchfulness). Based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Dighajanu Sutta and other canonical texts, this essay emphasizes the importance of effort, knowledge, and good karma in achieving social welfare.
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1. Introduction
This chapter includes two topics called 鲍迟迟丑腻苍补-蝉补尘辫补诲腻 (the accomplishment of persistent effort and 膧rrakkha-蝉补尘辫补诲腻 (the accomplishment of watchfulness). Of these two, the Buddha expounded Ut峁環膩na-蝉补尘辫补诲腻 first for the development of social welfare and then He expounded the rests of accomplishments in serial order. These two subject matters are related to each other. Therefore, the present chapter is devoted to the topic, called 鲍峁弓丑腻苍补-蝉补尘辫补诲腻.
The discourses or doctrines for the development of social welfare according to the Buddha that are discussed in this chapter are based on mainly 顿墨驳丑补箩腻峁嘘 Sutta, the 础峁弓丑补办补 狈颈辫腻迟补, A峁単uttara Nik膩ya.[1]
It is a universal truth that there is no one who does not want to achieve their welfare. Everyone wishes to progress or improve his or her welfare in each of their life. Thus all people make an effort to progress their welfare by all means. While they are making an effort for the improvement, some are developed, some developing and some underdeveloped. It is law of nature and law of Kamma (Karma). No one can go against the law of nature and Kamma. The progress or improvement depends on the whole of effort or energy, knowledge and Kamma.
There are, however, many ways and means to progress social welfare for anyone. It is only needed to use these ways and means. The Lord Buddha preached the ways and means to develop oneself. The present chapter discusses some ways instructed by the Buddha.