Every burning problem in the world today has been generated based on the lust, hatred, and ignorance. People kill other beings keeping these three as a basis for their killings. Furthermore, they steal, commit adultery, tell lies, and consume alcohol and drugs based on these three things. In fact, these are the causes for most of the crises in the world today. The Supreme Buddha taught us the reason for wars to exist in the world as follows.

When we see a figure from our eyes we feel a sensation due to the connection (Passa) of eyes, the figure, and specific identification (Vingnanaya). We are drawn to this sensation and a lust or greed is formed. Likewise, greed is generated with respect to ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Then, we start to find what our greed was upon to (e.g., the figure). Since we are searching for it, we find it. Its value comes next into our minds. When we keep thinking about the value of it, we start to build a fondness towards it. This fondness causes an attachment. This attachment caused by the fondness creates a deep bond within us. That bond is so strong, and we cannot ignore it. This is why we try to obtain it, which is we strongly bonded to with, by any means. We do not like to see someone else is using it. This is why we become eager. The eagerness results in attempting to protect what we love, even if we have to fight for it. Guards equipped with dangerous weapons are created and started to war against anyone who starts to take that from us. Sometimes, this war becomes a never ending hatred and starts to propagate into future generations. This is how all these wars start to exist. Buddha taught us the reason for these wars is the greediness. Think about this for a moment. Is not this true? Is not the greediness the cause to all these wars? Yes, it is the reason for all the burning problems we face today. We can free ourselves from these problems and wars if we could eradicate the greed. This is the perspective of Buddha about how to achieve the world peace.

This is how a righteous ruler who rules his kingdom with high moral standards is described in Buddhism. Buddha taught us that a righteous ruler must develop ten merits (Dasa Kusal). Those are,

 

  1. Refrain from killing beings.
  2. Refrain from stealing belongings of other people.
  3. Refrain from sexual misconducts.
  4. Refrain from lying.
  5. Refrain from divulge secrets.
  6. Refrain from speaking harsh words.
  7. Refrain from speaking meaningless words.
  8. Refrain from desire for others’ belongings.
  9. Refrain from hate others.
  10. Refrain from following and practicing fictitious worshiping and free from false believes.

 

In the teachings of Buddha, it is also said that the righteous ruler after practiced these ten merits needs to rule his kingdom according to “ten ruling laws of Dhamma” (Dasa Raaja Dharma).

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect his fellow people under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds mentioned above. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect his army under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect the people of the royal clan under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect the Brahmins (upper class of the country) and householders under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect the people of suburbs under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect the monks and other ascetic groups under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler should protect animals who roam on earth and in the sky under a kingdom of Dhamma. He should honor, worship, and practice the ten meritorious deeds. He should live under a flag of these ten merits.

 

  1. The righteous ruler must prevent any immoral activities to happen in the country.

 

  1. He must also tend to the needs of the poor people of the country.

 

  1. The righteous ruler must not use intoxicating substances like alcohols and drugs. He should consult Bhikkhus and ascetics, who are practicing moral qualities and trying to control their minds and eradicate defilements, to learn about the good and bad. By consulting them, he needs to learn what is best for him and to his kingdom. These consist of the knowledge about what the merits and demerits are, what needs to be done and not, things that could result in suffering for a tremendous period of time, and etc. He needs to go to them from time to time and learn and keep these moral qualities in his mind. Then, he should get rid of demerits and cultivate only the merits.

 

Because these ten ruling laws of Dhamma are protected by the ruler of the country, the resulting merits bring protection and prosperity to the whole country. How wise should the Supreme Buddha be to teach us such ruling methods? All the current problems we face around the world today exist because of the absence of these ten ruling instructions. May righteous rulers be born to this world with the help of the Order of Gautama Buddha!