PAX 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Caste System In India, Well-Order, Nonviolence
27 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
India is the birthplace of two of the world"s major religions - hinduism and buddhism. The classical hindu caste system has the warrior role second from the top. The high position of the warrior in the caste system indicates that hindu society is far from pacifist. The hindi word for peace, shanti , is best understood as a well-ordered state of mind. In buddhism, however, there is a natural pacifism. Buddhists believe we are one with all because there is no self. the word ahimsa means non-injury to all living things. Ghandi was a hindu, but practiced a form of non-violence closer to the buddhist definition. Ahimsa- nonviolence, reconciliation, buddhism, oneness of all humans, to hurt one is to hurt all. In the chinese tradition the military was not figured into the class system. There was no real social status for the military, and instead intellectuals were revered. Just like india, conceptions of peace were directed inward.
