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label for political parties actually limit their own development as Religious leaders should ensure that the resources in an
they will have difficulty reaching out to the non-adherents, and in organisation are used in accordance with the original objectives
some cases, result in chaos and conflict in those countries. they were established. Otherwise, it will be an abuse or misuse
of these resources. When members of the public make financial
The 3 rule: “A religious organisation should make a clear stand contributions to a religious organisation, such donations should be
rd
against oppression and injustice” includes Buddhist organisations used only for the purpose they were requested. Religious leaders
as well. They should state their stand on certain public issues that have no right to convert resources received for religious purposes
affect the rights of Buddhists in society, as well as issues that may into political donations.
create disharmony due to misconceptions about Buddhism among
non-Buddhists. As pointed out by Prof. Liu Yu Guang, “When a When religious leaders mobilize its devotees for certain
Buddhist organisation involved itself in religious activities, as projects, it should not deviate from the original purpose why they
provided for under the constitution, it actually enters into a scenario were mobilized. Otherwise, it becomes a form of inappropriate
of exercising its rights, and hence the responsibility of protecting mobilization. For instance, if religious leaders mobilize devotees
the rights of civil society when the situation demands”. Another to support a political party, it is likely to attract a negative response
scholar, Dr You Xiang Zhou (of Taiwan) pointed out that if a from the public, especially in today’s society that upholds the value
religious organisation chooses to ignore public issues, it is either of separation of politics and religion.
closed-minded or hypocritical.
The respect a religious leader receives is derived from his many
The 4 rule: “A religious organisation should strive to actions in society. He is expected to lead the devotees from the
th
transform the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.” This “mundane” to the “supra-mundane” in terms of their understanding
rule is a test on the wisdom and skills of Buddhist leaders. It is and practice of the religion. He must not degrade the sanctity of
not easy to make changes without causing partisan conflicts. To the religion by encouraging or mobilizing the devotees to support
reduce partisan conflicts, Buddhist organisations should address the any political activities. Furthermore, he must not impersonate any
issues objectively, without considering the interests or views of the divinity or claim to have received any divine message from some
political parties involved. supernatural beings. Finally, he must understand that he is not a
saint but a human with faults on the path to perfection.
Apart from the above rules, Dr. You Xiang Zhou of Taiwan (See
You Xiang Zhou: The Development of Global Engaged Buddhist- Religious leaders are supported by devotees because of their
its Political Approach to Public Affairs. 游祥洲:论全球入世佛 faith in them. While faith tends to be emotional, it does not mean
教之发展进路--兼论其涉及公共事务之政治取向)opined that it is irrational. However, devotees should not blindly follow
that there should be five additional rules to this code of ethics. religious leaders, especially when they have exceeded the boundaries
of their roles. It is for this reason that all religious leaders should be
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