[Cancelled] Harmony & Human Conflict: Lessons from the Pali Suttas

Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 | 0 comments

All human beings want to live in harmony but yet they are beset with conflict. Conflict exists even during the time of the Buddha, the most famous being the quarrel that divided the monks of Kosambi along with their lay followers into two hostile camps whose mutual animosity was so strong that they even rejected the Buddha’s efforts to intercede. Eventually, the Buddha taught the reluctant monks to develop love and harmony, reminding them of the state of peace that they sought.

In this program, besides the focus on the Kosambiya Sutta, MN 48 and Araṇavibhanga Sutta, MN 139, we will also explore other related suttas in the Pāli Nikāyas where the topic of harmony and disputes are also mentioned. Overall, in all these suttas, the Buddha spoke about how to be more peaceful through cultivating a wholesome character that involves discipline, a measured speech, patience rather than anger, and consideration for others.