Ending Suffering: The Intersection of Buddhism, Marxism, and Jainism
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Sunita Manian and Dr. Jim Winchester
Abstract
Dukkha, commonly translated as suffering, pervades all life. At least that is the view of Buddhists and Jains. This sentiment is core to each of their respective traditions and heavily informs their thought processes and consequently their ethics. In The Bodhicaryāvatāra, originally recited by the Buddhist monk Śāntideva, the ethics of Buddhist monks and how they conduct themselves are discussed. Interestingly, he focuses on giving shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, and medicine to the sick. These issues are, unfortunately, still heavily prominent in today’s society. I argue that to actively combat the excessive suffering we witness every day there must be a political platform for the masses to rally behind. In my research, I show that the intersection between Buddhist ethics and Marxist politics provides a proper foundation for a new political platform focused on the ending of suffering. I also will raise questions about how these similarities affect Jainism and the role that Jains can play within such a movement.
Start Date
27-3-2024 10:10 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 10:18 AM
Location
Arts and Sciences 2-75
Ending Suffering: The Intersection of Buddhism, Marxism, and Jainism
Arts and Sciences 2-75
Dukkha, commonly translated as suffering, pervades all life. At least that is the view of Buddhists and Jains. This sentiment is core to each of their respective traditions and heavily informs their thought processes and consequently their ethics. In The Bodhicaryāvatāra, originally recited by the Buddhist monk Śāntideva, the ethics of Buddhist monks and how they conduct themselves are discussed. Interestingly, he focuses on giving shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, and medicine to the sick. These issues are, unfortunately, still heavily prominent in today’s society. I argue that to actively combat the excessive suffering we witness every day there must be a political platform for the masses to rally behind. In my research, I show that the intersection between Buddhist ethics and Marxist politics provides a proper foundation for a new political platform focused on the ending of suffering. I also will raise questions about how these similarities affect Jainism and the role that Jains can play within such a movement.