Buddhism has great benefits for people, helping them live a prosperous and happy life without harming each other and helping the society to be peaceful. Buddhism has four benefits:
1- Buddhist teachings are a means to help people have peace of mind and will make everyone have good mental health and good physical health, because physical health depends on mental health.
2- Buddhism makes people feel good and have a strong mind, always free from fear and all difficulties.
3- Religion helps give people strength and confidence in themselves that there are always people who will help them succeed and have the opportunity to overcome all obstacles.
4- It helps people live a more disciplined and quality life, with the opportunity to achieve good results. These four directions are great benefits of Buddhism for everyone.
Buddhism is a religion that points out, explains, and guides beings to walk on the right path, the path of happiness and prosperity that beings themselves desire. Buddhism is a road map for the life of beings, and the actions of beings are the right path. Buddhism shows the path to happiness in three ways: not doing all evil, doing all good, and purifying one's heart.
Buddhism has come to Cambodia for a long time and has developed strongly and has deeply influenced the heart of the mentality, customs, traditions, arts, and culture of our Khmer nation. After taking root in our Khmer society, Buddhism has had a great impact on various sectors that support society, allowing society to progress and building a clear national culture. For this reason, Buddhism was included in the constitution as "Buddhism is the state religion." Below, we will highlight the influence of Buddhism on various sectors of Khmer society as follows:
Politics, governance, and leadership
In all social regimes that respect Buddhism, the leaders of the country, especially the Khmer kings, have always been closely linked to Buddhism.
1- During the Angkor period, the Khmer kings who respected Buddhism always promoted Buddhism in order to ensure that their policies were balanced and stable, and to ensure that the Khmer people had unity, especially a stable life around the throne. It is observed that the king implemented politics by respecting the “Buddha Ceremony”, which is an important policy to make the king resemble a Bodhisattva figure, a god who represents righteousness, justice, and the tenfold royal dharma, ensuring the safety and progress of the people.
2- During the Longwek and Udong eras, the kings were all strong Buddhists, having been ordained and studied in Buddhist monasteries. They implemented politics, governance, and leadership of the country based on Buddhism. Moreover, during that period, the King often used monks and the Prime Minister as his advisors in leading the country. In general, during that period, all civil servants and intellectuals who had a hand in governing and building the country were all trained in Buddhism and were clearly equipped with Buddhist theories.
3- During the French colonial period (1863-1953), Buddhism played an important role in the politics of preserving the race, national characteristics, and national identity by adhering to the customs, traditions, and culture of the nation. During that period, Buddhism was an obstacle to the policies of the French colonialists who intended to destroy our Khmer culture and civilization.
4- During the independence period (1953-1970), the era of socialism, under the wise leadership of Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the political and administrative sectors of the country were completely linked to Buddhism. In implementing major national policies, His Holiness often sought advice from the two orders of monks, who were the leaders of all Cambodian Buddhists. Because of this excellent policy, which made that era so prosperous that Cambodia was called the “Island of Peace”.
5- In later periods, except for the Democratic Kampuchea period, Buddhism still played an important role in the political and national governance.
After 1979, the Cambodian People’s Party rebuilt the temples that were destroyed and abolished during the Pol Pot regime, so that Cambodian people throughout the country could respect Buddhism, which had long been their religion. Especially recently, during election campaigns, various parties have associated themselves with Buddhism in order for their parties to win. After the parliamentary elections, Buddhism was included in the constitution as “Buddhism is the state religion” in politics, as in previous periods.
Buddhism defined the precepts as verses that command not to do evil and defined the Dharma as verses that allow both clergy and laity to do good deeds. Being a good person is a moral code that every person must always follow.
All religions must be united
Create happiness for people
People need to relieve suffering or, in other words, need happiness. People need religion because it is to relieve suffering or for happiness only. If religion cannot help in this, people do not need religion. Therefore, religion must be carefully considered in all aspects.Religion must be united to create happiness for the world.
If we are united to create happiness for the world, of course, we must not want to use our religion to rule the world, we must not promote our religion and forcefully order other religions, we must not trample on the feet, do not break the back, do not persecute, do not deceive. We must have true honesty, love each other, and bring the good things in that religion to help the world. We must stop being greedy, stop wanting face, stop wanting followers, stop adhering to parties, sects, and preach religion to alleviate suffering or for the happiness of the world. Apart from that, there is nothing else we should hold on to.
Prepared by:
- Student Tholl Un, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Khmer literature from Preah Sihanouk Royal University
- Graduated with a bachelor's degree in information technology from Beilbray University
Address: Sya Ampil Village, Baray Commune, Srey Santor District, Kampong Cham Province.
References
- Chuon Nath (Samdech Sanghareach) Dictionary (Volume 1 - Volume 2)
- Bhikkhu Dhammabal Khieu Chum (Gala Chenda)
- Preah Bodhivaeng So-hai (Titth Dhammaikath Katha)
- Preah Udom Moni Um-sur (Avasankhas Ignorance. Sangha. Mind. Form)
- Bhikkhu Ngin Phen Intpannhao (Buddhism and Society)
- Preah Monikoal Hul Sovann (Three Benefits)
- Preah Udom Prija Chap Pin (Three Benefits)
- Preah Balat Udom Lep Song Siv Siddhartha (Buddhism and Science)
- Professor Maha Dhamma Gurukoal Prak Prum (Buddhism and Social Issues)
- Chhon Iam (Buddhist Economic Philosophy)
- Mr. San Sochea Book (Three Benefits)
- Mr. Cher Kaen (Buddhism and Economy)
-The Story of the Great Hero
-King Jayavarman VII (Khmer History by Ros Chantrabot)
-The Art of War (Sun Wu)
-Ancient Military Tactics (compiled by Makthara, based on Khmer historical documents)
-The Book of the Great Man, Volume 4
Trai Pitaka > Sutta Pitaka > Anguttara Nikaya > Athakanibhata > Tikhajana Sutta (Book No. 48, Page 244)
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