Social Responsibility and Buddhism

The Buddha’s teachings are vast. One can apply them to almost every aspect of life. He taught people to overcome suffering which is inherent in existence and to strive to realise Nirvana.
When it comes to social responsibility, He taught never to look down upon anyone. He firmly spoke against the caste system prevalent in India at that time. Brahmins were supposed to be supreme in the hierarchical social structure in India. The Buddha said that only by one’s actions does one become supreme or otherwise. If one does good deeds and good acts, then one becomes supreme – and those that don’t adhere to good values – their journey in Samsara will be long - because of their latent ignorance. 
The Buddha aptly describes in the Vasala Sutta what makes one a Brahmin or not 
a Brahmin:

“Na Jacca Vasalo Hoti
Na Jacca Hoti Brahmano;
Kammuna Vasalo Hoti
Kammuna Hoti Brahmano Ti” 

It’s not by birth that one becomes an outcast (Vasalaya), or a high born person (Brahmin); but it’s by one’s actions that one becomes an outcast or a noble (Brahmin) person. 
In modern times, there are those who make a huge issue about people of other ethnicities different to their own. Everyone can’t be expected to be of one ethnicity. Our world is huge. There are so many countries. The location and geography of a country, the culture and languages spoken in those different countries proves that this world of ours is one of rich diversity and each human being is unique and different. “Special“ is the word I like to use. We should learn to appreciate people who are culturally different from us.

In modern times, there’s strife and turmoil due to ignorance. People don’t respect each other. This is prevalent in so many situations in life. The Buddha has said that the answer to aggression and anger is patience. Patience in Buddhism is one of the mental states that an awakened person has perfected. Being patient gives rise to equanimity, which is one of the four Brahma Viharas or sublime mental states in Buddhism. Not to react in anger no matter how provoked one is, is a truly commendable quality. Normally, people react to situations without thinking twice, and this only aggravates the situation even more. Being patient and calm actually helps a situation. 
For example: Two vehicles collide on a road somewhere in Sri Lanka. Both drivers get out and start shouting at each other (especially if both are male) - Then people start flocking around them. Their words turn angry and violent. Then the argument is very likely to end in an awful fist fight.

"The Buddha has said that the answer to aggression and anger is patience. Patience in Buddhism is one of the mental states that an awakened person has perfected"

If one were to analyse the above - None of the two drivers of the two vehicles intended to collide with each other. It was an ‘accident’. Then why brawl and make a huge commotion about it? Why not calmly speak to each other. If one was at fault - he or she can genuinely apologise and then if the vehicles are insured, the two parties can wait for the insurance person to come. And if necessary, both can go to the police and put an entry. Worse things happen. Main thing is that the two drivers and possibly passengers weren’t injured. Of course, if it’s a very complicated accident, it’s a different story. It involves more insight and understanding to what really happened. Those who drive (especially on Sri Lankan roads ) should do so calmly, without speeding. Usually, a serious accident happens due to people driving recklessly and at very high speeds. Our roads can’t handle so much pressure.

If there’s a person who is physically or mentally challenged - Why do people, make such a big deal of it? These people too are human beings. It’s sad the way some people make fun of people with issues pertaining to their physical appearance. “oh how fat you are!”,  or “oh how thin you are.” 

When I was much younger, I went for a lunch. One associate I knew (a female) was unusually thin. She served herself a very small portion of rice. All the other ladies started making fun of her. My heart ached for her. If it happened now, I would have intervened and said something. However, at that time, I was helpless. It’s the people who make fun of other people who really need to be rehabilitated. They don’t know what they are suffering from. A basic insensitivity towards fellow human beings who are different in some way. 
Down syndrome people need to be respectfully called “Differently abled.” Some of them can display so much talent and human feeling. Ajahn Brahm would say how before he took to robes, when in his youth, he volunteered to work at a centre for down syndrome people. How these people could sense exactly how he was feeling. They would come to him and give him a hug (without him having said anything ) when he was feeling low, and that was enough. 

This also applies to those with mental problems. When people have mental issues - the others who are more ‘normal’ make such fun out of these people. If they only knew what that ‘mental’ person was going through, would they behave differently? Our Sri Lankan social conditioning is to ridicule such people. This attitude from society only damages them the more. It’s truly a sad plight.
Somehow, since I was small, I’ve always respected everyone. I could never laugh at someone with a physical defect. I could never ridicule someone who was abnormally thin. Even when it came to people with different sexual orientations – I always respected everyone.

In local schools the ‘normal’ children often bully the more ‘strange’ ones. Not only do children bully their peers but teachers also add to the trauma these ‘different’ children go through. There’s severe ragging which happens in schools and universities here in Sri Lanka - to a dangerous extent. Most often the superiors in these institutions don’t do anything about it. It’s high time some morals were taught to the people who work in these social institutions in society. Tolerance and understanding towards people who are different in some way, physically or mentally is very important. 
The Buddha taught lay people the five precepts to be practiced constantly in one’s life. Abstaining from alcohol consumption is one of those precepts. If people stopped consuming alcohol, that would dramatically improve the lives of those who normally succumb to it. 

"The Buddha gave people the freedom to think on their own, free from fanaticism and dogmatism, which will lessen a lot of religious conflicts we see in the world today"

People get married. However, very few remain ‘happily married’. Those who have understanding partners are truly blessed. Drugs and alcohol consumptions in married men are fundamental in what creates domestic violence and disharmony in the marriage. Men would not just beat their wives, but they’d also abuse the children by hitting them, and shouting at them etc. This needs to change. Children are innocent. Innately so. They can’t handle the beatings and shoutings from people they look up to, and the trauma they endure because of their helplessness only initiates more mental problems for them in their adult lives. Their whole lives become a never ending effort to fight their fears and insecurities because of their troubled upbringing. And then they need therapy and counselling. So, refraining from alcohol consumption in our modern world is a truly commendable quality. In social situations to keep up with peers, one might be forced to consume alcohol. However,  saying NO to alcohol is really great. 

The Buddha gave freedom of thought to people. This is very well illustrated in the Kalama Sutta. The Buddha gave people the freedom to think on their own, free from fanaticism and dogmatism, which will lessen a lot of religious conflicts we see in the world today. In the Kalama Sutta the Buddha says that not because He says, or someone else says should one accept what’s being said. Only if you understand and are convinced of something by yourself, then you can accept what is being said. This shows that the Buddha was very tolerant and did not impose other people to blindly believe all that He preached. We should also cultivate this quality of tolerance. Especially towards people of different faiths with different views from ours. We should have an open mind. This attitude if practiced will help people to be more understanding of people of different faiths. Just because I am Buddhist, I don’t expect the whole world to be all and only Buddhist. There’s so much we don’t know about life. So much we don’t know about being basically human. Most people are bundles of confusion and insecurities abounding. I like to think that parallel realities can exist simultaneously. People of different faiths should be able to live harmoniously. People who have different ideas should be treated with respect. 

Most recently, hate speech on media and the spreading of hate videos has become a huge issue. People on Facebook, and other social media sites like Instagram should take extra care as their personal material can be used by people who don’t mean them any good. Metta also is a very fundamental teaching in Buddhism. The antidote to hate is Metta towards all beings. The Buddha was very open minded. He said that just because another is of a different faith, one should not disregard them but should learn to respect their beliefs. In the Karaniyametta Sutta, it is said that just like a mother would protect her child, her only child, so should one have boundless love and compassion towards all beings. And so, one should not indulge in hate speech or publicise hate videos. If we take the Buddhist path of Metta, our hearts will be more peaceful and there would be more goodwill towards others. 

Thus, if we examine the teachings of the Buddha, we come across many examples that encourages us to be socially responsible beings that will promote peace and harmony in the world.
Wishing you a blessed Poya. With Metta!