Monarchy
Monarchy
With the rise of engaged Buddhism I’ve been thinking about my own politics and the Dhamma. Personally I’m a Tory, which naturally entails support for the continuation of the British Monarchy. My politics has grown further to the right in terms of handing more powers back to the sovereign which have been eroded over the centuries. Lately I’ve entertained the idea that such a transference of power can be compatible with the Dhamma since to be born a monarch is to have had a fortunate rebirth and so the monarch does have a Buddhist version of the divine right of kings. Thoughts?
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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Re: Monarchy
Greetings Ceisiwr,
So... what I'm going to do is to move this topic to "Hot Topics" to prevent that happening. However, if you wish to explore the topic more fully, Dharma Wheel Engaged may be your best bet.
Metta,
Paul.
I think this aspect of the topic can be pursued profitably here from the Theravadin context at DWT, but I fear that which came before it is likely to send us spiralling off into political commentary.
So... what I'm going to do is to move this topic to "Hot Topics" to prevent that happening. However, if you wish to explore the topic more fully, Dharma Wheel Engaged may be your best bet.
Metta,
Paul.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Monarchy
Fair enough
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
Re: Monarchy
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: Monarchy
In Theravada Buddhism, I think I read that a being could be reborn as a deva, but right on their death they could even go to hell (if the kamma is so). Again: a deva after they died, can go even to hell in the subsequent rebirth. You can find that in one or more suttas in one of the Nikayas translated (or "co-translated", in the case of the Majjhima Nikaya) into English by Bhikkhu Bodhi, from Wisdom Publications.Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:03 am With the rise of engaged Buddhism I’ve been thinking about my own politics and the Dhamma. Personally I’m a Tory, which naturally entails support for the continuation of the British Monarchy. My politics has grown further to the right in terms of handing more powers back to the sovereign which have been eroded over the centuries. Lately I’ve entertained the idea that such a transference of power can be compatible with the Dhamma since to be born a monarch is to have had a fortunate rebirth and so the monarch does have a Buddhist version of the divine right of kings. Thoughts?
As well, I read, royalty went to hell after they died, because they acted in an aDhamma (not Dhamma) way or ways while as royalty -- or, instead, I might have read instead some past kamma from a life before that caught up with each one of them, but that is unlikely? (I can't remember which reason for all of them going to hell right after their royal births ended.) From Theravada Buddhism, too, I think. And from the Nikayas, I would guess. So, being born into royalty does not guarantee you will act properly, which would lead to the next rebirth in hell possibly, if I read the story correctly. I hope another or others here can supply the source of the story.
From,
samsarictravelling
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Re: Monarchy
It’s very unlikely that he will be monarch but if he were to be im sure he would be a fine one as the majority of British monarchs have been.SarathW wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:44 am Do you think Harry will be a Universal Monarch?
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32961
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
Re: Monarchy
samsarictravelling wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:46 amIn Theravada Buddhism, I think I read that a being could be reborn as a deva, but right on their death they could even go to hell (if the kamma is so). Again: a deva after they died, can go even to hell in the subsequent rebirth. You can find that in one or more suttas in one of the Nikayas translated (or "co-translated", in the case of the Majjhima Nikaya) into English by Bhikkhu Bodhi, from Wisdom Publications.Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:03 am With the rise of engaged Buddhism I’ve been thinking about my own politics and the Dhamma. Personally I’m a Tory, which naturally entails support for the continuation of the British Monarchy. My politics has grown further to the right in terms of handing more powers back to the sovereign which have been eroded over the centuries. Lately I’ve entertained the idea that such a transference of power can be compatible with the Dhamma since to be born a monarch is to have had a fortunate rebirth and so the monarch does have a Buddhist version of the divine right of kings. Thoughts?
As well, I read, royalty went to hell after they died, because they acted in an aDhamma (not Dhamma) way or ways while as royalty -- or, instead, I might have read instead some past kamma from a life before that caught up with each one of them, but that is unlikely? (I can't remember which reason for all of them going to hell right after their royal births ended.) From Theravada Buddhism, too, I think. And from the Nikayas, I would guess. So, being born into royalty does not guarantee you will act properly, which would lead to the next rebirth in hell possibly, if I read the story correctly. I hope another or others here can supply the source of the story.
From,
samsarictravelling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I might not reply to any reply post to this, so please excuse me.
But ones birth is always deserved in all of those scenarios, yes
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
Re: Monarchy
Where exactly do the suttas teach the above? Thanks
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.
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Re: Monarchy
"So it is the way people live that makes them how they are, whether short-lived or long lived, sickly or healthy, ugly or lovely, insignificant or illustrious, poor or rich, in a low class or eminent family, or witless or wise. Sentient beings are the owners of their deeds and heir to their deeds. Deeds are their womb, their relative, and their refuge. It is deeds that divide beings into inferior and superior.”
https://suttacentral.net/mn135/en/sujato
Re: Monarchy
Where else? Thanks
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
Re: Monarchy
This seems to me to fall apart on a number of grounds.
Firstly, a cursory perusal of history will show any number of monarchs brutalising their subjects and leading their countries to ruin.
Secondly, even if some kammic merit leads to one being born a monarch, it does not follow that they will either do their job well, not that their people should hand them more powers or a carte blanche to do as they wish.
Argumentum ad hitlerium must read its ugly head here, since then it can be argued that everyone had the kamma to be exactly what they were, including our friend Adolf, your abusive ex-boyfriend and the psychopathic boss of Hate Inc. Does it give them any rights to do their evil?
_/|\_
Re: Monarchy
Hitler wasn't a monarch. Most monarchs in history did more good than harm.Dan74 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:13 amThis seems to me to fall apart on a number of grounds.
Firstly, a cursory perusal of history will show any number of monarchs brutalising their subjects and leading their countries to ruin.
Secondly, even if some kammic merit leads to one being born a monarch, it does not follow that they will either do their job well, not that their people should hand them more powers or a carte blanche to do as they wish.
Argumentum ad hitlerium must read its ugly head here, since then it can be argued that everyone had the kamma to be exactly what they were, including our friend Adolf, your abusive ex-boyfriend and the psychopathic boss of Hate Inc. Does it give them any rights to do their evil?
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
Re: Monarchy
I am not sure of that.Hitler wasn't a monarch. Most monarchs in history did more good than harm.
Even present British monarch lineage was responsible for the Hiroshima nuclear bombing.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: Monarchy
That was joint with the US and it was an expedient way to bring a swift end to the bloodiest wars in human history. It was more cruel to continue with the war against the Empire of the Sun with conventional means.
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
- retrofuturist
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- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
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Re: Monarchy
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."