Western Human Rights: The Application and The Process of Buddhist Paradigm

Abstract

The objective of this academic paper is to interpret western human rights declared by United Nations by applied Buddhist Paradigm. The Western human rights are that of the Three Declarations i.e., the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Declaration on the Rights of the Child (1959), and Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (1979). The author has crystallized the three Declarations into 3 contents: 1) human rights, 2) equality, and 3) brotherhood. Later, the author explained these three declarations by applied Buddhist concept from the Sutra and the
Vinaya.
The study revealed that by wording Buddhism did not use the term “human rights” directly, but utilized the same essence in other words i.e., freedom, equality, and brotherhood. 1) “freedom” found in the Pavarana Sutra where chances opened to loving kindness monks to admonish other monks, the Cakkavatti Sutra (the 5 Sīlas or 5 precepts) mentioned not to violate other beings, their belonging, and their wives, and suggested to do righteous speaking and communicated with awareness as well, while the Noble Eightfold Path (No. 5) stated that those who wish to attain enlightenment should not earn their living mischievously, in the 7 conditions of welfare or the 7 Aparihāniyadhamma (No. 5) told us about women rights, While the Commentary on the Novice Rāhula Sutra mentioned children rights, and the Kālāma Sutra stressed on freedom of faith and opinions. 2) “Equality”
explained differently; (1) in the West equality show no different in nation, religion, gender, language, and race according to human rights all of us were equal, (2) Brahmanism stated that all human being were not equal since they were born from different parts of the Brahman, and (3) Buddhism
believes that human beings were born equally, but actions differentiate us for instance born in high caste, Buddhism referred to those who were
righteous and low caste referred to those who did mischievous actions. Moreover, the Buddha also redefined Brahmanism’s caste system. To the Buddha human beings classified differently based on their duties i.e.,
Brahman were those who teach, worriers were Kashatriya, while craftsmen were Vaishaya, and labors were Shudra. and 3) “Brotherhood” Western
believed that all human beings were brother since we all were handicraft of God. Therefore, we all should treat each other like our family members. While Buddhism stated that all beings were related in the round of rebirth, we should be kind to each other. Whenever we did merit, we should share to us all.
However, there were some different aspects should be mentioned: 1) freedom in the West referred to outer freedom, while Buddhism referred to inner freedom (spiritual freedom). 2) Human Relation, Western see human relation based on rights, this led them to protect their rights intensively, and caused them to live individually. While Buddhists lived their lives through loving kindness. Loving kindness acted like bridges that collected all human beings to live collectively. Therefore, human rights would be more unity if we can merge these two aspects smoothly.