Buddhism – an antidote to violence and war.
Posted on March 6th, 2023
Senaka Weeraratna
Had the Roman Empire under Constantine embraced Buddhism rather than Christianity we would have had a more peaceful Europe and a more peaceful world.
Historically speaking despite all the rhetoric on Peace and Human Rights, Europe remains the same. The biggest battlefield in history compared to other continents. The track record of Europe is constant War, Religious Crusades, Holocaust, Colonialism, and the like.
Both the First World War (1914 – 1918) and the Second World War ( 1939 – 1945) originated in Europe.
We are now on the threshold of another World War originating in Eastern Europe.
Denials will not alter the fact.
Europe was in need of the likes of Emperor Asoka of India who renounced violence and spread Buddhism and peace throughout the then-known world rather than Constantine who remained a warrior until his death and never renounced war and violence as means of settling disputes.
The entire world has been paying a heavy price because of adopting belief systems that advocate violence and conquests to spread religion.
Buddhism is the answer. The antidote for warlike countries and civilizations.
Dr. Paul Dahlke, a German Buddhist pioneer, was one of the first Europeans like the celebrated German Philosopher, Artur Schopenhauer, who saw the value of spreading Buddhism in European countries, to overcome the spread of religious wars in Europe.
see also
Asoka Weeraratna – Germany’s ‘Mahinda Thera’
https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9,11192,0,0,1,0
” there would never be anything more important for Western civilization than the need to become more familiar with Buddhism”.
Dr. Paul Dahlke
German Buddhist Pioneer
Source
CREATING A FOCAL POINT FOR BUDDHISM IN THE WEST
The German Buddhist pioneer Paul Dahlke
Martin Baumann
BUDDHIST STUDIES FROM INDIA TO AMERICA
Essays in Honour of Charles S. Prebish
Edited by Damien Keown
Routledge: London
2006