Buddhist Perspectives on Conflict, Reconciliation & Peace

This course will focus on Buddhist understanding of internal and external conflicts and the ways we can settle them and cultivate inner and outer peace. Disputes and conflicts are an integral part of human experience, whether at work, with friends and family, or in the social and political sphere. Buddhist thought offers a perspective of non-violence (ahimsa) as a way to peace. It offers a way to encounter conflict, pain, grief and anger without attacking or running away; a way to transform conflicts through deep listening and compassion. According to Buddhist philosophy, conflicts originate in the mind, and therefore the understanding of the mind, its processes, its motivations and its tendencies is central to any movement towards inner and outer reconciliation and peace.

During the course, students will learn key ideas from Buddhist philosophy and psychology concerning the origin of conflicts and the ways to transform conflict into peace. Students will be introduced to modern interpretations of these Buddhist concepts and practices as they are reflected in the movement called “Engaged Buddhism”: a term referring to the social application of Buddhist teachings. We will examine how “Engaged Buddhism” integrates Buddhist ideas and practices in social and political spheres, and attempts to find methods to deal with national, ethnic, gender, environmental and economic conflicts in a non-violent, peaceful and compassionate way.   

At the end of the course students will have the opportunity to experience contemplative Buddhist practices which aim at developing the capacity of deep listening and compassion while encountering internal and external conflicts.