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In Buddhism, lay Buddhists can participate in all aspects of left for worldly affairs. In the context of modem terminology,
political life, including control and execution of political power. This politics is a profession, and so is monasticism. For a person to be
is not a controversial issue. The controversy arises when monastics simultaneously engaged in two professions which point to different
want to participate in politics. This is not because there is no clear objectives is really unthinkable.
scriptural advice on this matter, but because of the preconceived
ideas and interpretation toward the meaning of politics and one’s Today, occasionally, we see monastics joining political parties,
participation in it. contest elections or hold political posts. This, however, does not
mean that their actions can be supported from the scriptures.
For instance, my interview published in a Buddhist magazine According to my own analysis, the behaviour of these people may
was quoted by a Chinese daily Kwong Min Jit Poh as “there is no be attributed to the following reasons:
harm for monastics to participate in politics”, but the same interview
was quoted by another columnist from China press as “objection to It is due to social political history as in the case of the Dalai
monastics participating in politics”! Lamas in Tibet.
Similarly Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda’s view that there Those who have no choice due to the political environment
is no harm for monastics to participate in politics was misconstrued they were in, as in the case of those who were appointed by the
as he saying that monastics can contest election, join parties, and authorities to serve as ministers, people’s representatives, senators,
seek power. When I sought clarification with him, he said, “Before etc.
the 1990 election in Malaysia, I went to Penang to persuade a monk
to give up his idea of contesting in the election. In 1995, I told Those who sincerely want to serve the cause of Buddhism but
thousands of monks in front of the President and Prime Minister have no in-depth understanding of the Buddha’s teaching and the
of Sri Lanka, that for the sake of Buddhism and the country “you meaning of politics, thus confusing their own roles.
should not join political parties and contest election.” It is obvious
that when Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda talked about “no Those who donned the yellow robes, but have strong egoistic
harm for monastics to participate in politics”, he was referring to personalities. They want attention from others.
Dharma education on politics and mediation of conflicts, but not
the struggle for political power. Whatever the reasons may be, we should not misuse the name
of Buddhism or distort the teachings of the Buddha to justify their
In later Buddhism, there were some monastics who were involvement in politics.
involved in politics, but this was mostly restricted to the educational
aspect and how they helped political leaders resolve conflicts. Some people argued that it is the right of a citizen to contest
After all, monastics are full-time workers fully involved in self- elections, and since monastics are also citizens, they should be
cultivation and preaching. There is hardly any time and energy allowed to do so. This argument is based on citizenship rights, not
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