1 Buddhist Engagements with Social Justice: A comparison between exiled Tibetan Buddhists in Dharamsala and Dalit Buddhists of Pune. Tamsin Bradley & Zara Ramsay
Focus on two Indian locations: Pune and Dharamsala (home to Dalai Lama & Tibetan refugees) Reasons for this comparative paper: Monolithic perceptions of religion amongst western NGO workers in India Core argument: Buddhism both shapes and is shaped by local socio-political environments; its impact on development visions/approaches must be evaluated by context 2
Dharamsala: 1. Tibetans persecuted because of faith 2. Long-standing Buddhist beliefs have shaped the Tibetan response to persecution – gentle, even passive Pune: 1. Ambedkarite Buddhism was created in order to tackle social injustice – vocal, potentially aggressive 3
Individuality is an illusion Spiritual liberation (nirvana) = ultimate realisation of ‘oneness’ Consequent rejection of human division/ stratification, linked to Buddhist focus on compassion (karuna) and loving kindness (metta) 4
To demand Tibetan sovereignty = assertion of inherent division between humans Dalai Lama “allows the Chinese to take advantage of Tibet as long as there is some level of dignity” 5
Interconnection/oneness must be taught to ALL people – Dalits should demand this recognition Dalits should also demand compassion from others; should expect the assistance of others in process of their development 6
The notion that one is cosmically punished/rewarded for one’s actions, usually in one’s next incarnation Has frequently been interpreted as fatalism 7
Fatalism? Debates have even questioned whether Tibetan Buddhists would say that Jewish people ‘deserved’ the Holocaust Not entirely fatalistic; a psychological tool for acceptance/peace of mind 8
Rejects the multiple-birth interpretation of karma Emphasises the karmic response in current lifetime Encourages hope and effort for development 9
Pune: Struggle for social equality is based on desire for development. Buddhism provides a practical methodology for this. Dharamsala: Struggle for development is based on desire for religious and national freedom. Buddhism is the priority and the goal, as well as the methodology. 10
Tibetan Buddhism and Ambedkarite Buddhism promote very different attitudes towards the struggles for social justice and development Not only are the approaches to these struggles different, but the relative importance of religion vis-a-vis development is very different in each place too. 11