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on the teachings of the Buddha. Even then, this argument is not
flawless. Judges, senior government officers, and rulers are also
citizens, but they are not allowed to contest in elections. Hence, even In today’s context,
from the point of citizenship rights, it is not proper for monastics to Ethics Buddhist organisations
contest election. must become an integral
of Political

Monastics who wished to take an active part in politics should part of the nation and
ask themselves the purpose of their active involvement. It is true Engagement participate positively in its
that some monastics have very sincere purpose of wanting to uphold political affairs. However,
the rights of Buddhists and serve the cause of Buddhism when they of Buddhist in order to ensure that they
joined political parties to contest in elections. However, they fail do not deviate from their
to see that by doing so they do more harm than good to Buddhism. Organisations core spiritual values and
This is because the nature of politics is divisive: the participation of principles,, they should be
a group of monastics in a political party will cause another group
of monastics joining an opposing party; ultimately this will lead to guided by a code of ethics.
a split in the Sangha. When monastics in different political parties
each champion their own cause and condemn opposing parties, all
quoting references and support from the Buddha’s doctrine, we can Introduction
imagine the damage done to Buddhism. This has already happened
in political Islam.
A major issue confronting Buddhists in contemporary society
is their engagement, either individually or as a group, in politics.
Perhaps we can learn something from the ingenuity of the There is a consensus that lay Buddhists can, and should participate in
Catholic Church in the Philippines. The Church is not involved the political affairs of the state. However, there is less agreement on
in party politics. It is, however active in voicing out the people’s whether monks and nuns, as individuals, should engage in politics.
grievances and raising relevant issues. In so doing it becomes a very Buddhist monks such as Ven. Tai Xu of China, Ven. Ottama of
powerful pressure group. Political parties, both in the Government Myanmar, Ven. Walpola Rahula of Sri Lanka and Ven. Thich Nhat
and in the opposition, have to heed the pressure exerted by the Hanh of Vietnam were advocates for the involvement of monks in
Church. The lay people may be divided in their interpretation of the politics, and were themselves actively engaged in it. On the other
message of the Church, and join and support different parties, but hand, many monks preferred to shun away from being involved in
they will all agree with the Church. Meanwhile, the Church is not politics.
divided.

(Originally published in Voice of Buddhism, Dec 2003, Vol 37) There is a further issue: whether Buddhist organisations, either

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