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15 Sri Lanka J. Int'l L. 11 (2003)
Buddhism and International Humanitarian Law

handle is hein.journals/sljinl15 and id is 17 raw text is: (2003) 15 Sri Lanka JIL 11 BUDDHISM AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW A. TAriyaratne * You may have heard that at Buddhist functions we always chant an invocation stanza: Dukkappaththaca nidduka Bhayapaththaca nibbhaya Sokappaththca nissokha Honthu sabbe pipanino May those who suffer physically overcome physical suffering May those who are in fear overcome fear May all those who are suffering mentally overcome that suffering May I strive to make all sentient beings happy You may notice that in Buddha's teachings the wellbeing and happiness of all sentient beings are sought. In the Karaniya Mettha Sutra, the discourse on loving kind- ness Buddha referred to all such beings starting from one celled species to the highest evolved such as human beings. No living being was left out. What is unique in Buddhism is the total rejection of violence and war and teaching the people a philosophy based on non-violence to be practiced at all times. Long before the UN and other organizations developed humanitarian laws, 2600 years ago, the Buddha propounded what I may call a Declaration on Sanctity of All Sentient Life. This is Karaniya Metta Sutra where not only human beings but also all sentient beings were elevate to a level of deserving compassion, equal respect and protection. Rather than going into imposing laws pertaining to war, He taught us the laws and modes of conduct applicable to life and society at all times. I do not subscribe to the view that by nature, human beings are cruel and violent and therefore an all-powerful sovereign state must control and regulate their relationships in peace and war. I take the view that human beings from the time they evolved as a distinct species to date are motivated by their emotions to do good or evil. Positive or constructive emotions lead people to do good. Negative or destructive emotions lead people towards evil. Mind is the bridge that connects the head with the heart. The degree to which people's minds evolved over centuries to comprehend and develop positive emotions through wisdom may have led to various customs and conventions regulating their con- duct at times of conflicts and war. Today these have developed into a universally accepted system of laws we collectively call International Humanitarian Law. If we inquire into the early stages of the development of the human species, all of us were hunter-gatherers. We persisted in this state most of the time we have existed. * Director, Sarvodaya Movement, Sri Lanka

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