Structural violence and spirituality: socially engaged Buddhist perspectives.

An understanding of structural violence is at the core of engaged Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that violence should be entirely eliminated, intrapsychically and interpersonally, that the starting point is to become self-aware. It sees violence as connected to the three poisons of greed, hatred and delusion. Buddhists do not deal with the power structure, which causes weakness of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. Monks would not hold power. In Thailand bottom-up development is needed and is taking place. Poor countries cannot wait for the United States to develop liberation theology.

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