Patriotism creates barriers and binary oppositions and thus limits the thinking and creation of human beings.

 Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

I remember that when I was a little girl, we were instilled the ideology of patriotism at the elementary school, and at any time we were preparing for fighting with the enemy since we are in the martial law. Even the thought of Buddhism, it would be regarded as the violation of the ideology of patriotism. Why?

 

As I have mentioned, there is no enemy in the nature of Emptiness. In the body of Emptiness, there is no object, things, binary opposition, even any ideology. To have the ideology of patriotism is meant to be loyal to the country, and which is regarded as the right thought. However, in fact, the ideology of patriotism is to increase the hatred to the enemy. What so called "the enemy" which is always means that the person who disagrees with our ideology. So, the ideology of patriotism is hidden the binary opposition.

 

Such as ideology of binary opposition would make people narrow their mind and limit their thought and creation. In the history, I have found that a lot of people were instigated by the ideology of patriotism or the other, and were thus killed in the war. A lot of soldiers were illiteracy, and they might have force and courage, but were lack of brain. They were easy to be fooled by any ideology. If we go into the path of Buddha, the war is impossible to be existed, and people could not die innocently.

 

Secondly, the ideology of patriotism is to draw a line in our heart, to differentiate any persons and any things, which would increase the conflict and argument from person to person, and would increase the fighting from country to country. So, if human beings own the intelligence and wisdom enough, the ideology of patriotism or nationalism should be removed. All people in the world are equal to each other. It is better to destroy the intangible line of one country and the other country.

Most of the good persons could not fight for their right, because their brains are washed to be ignorant by ridiculous ideology.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

 

The tangible and invisible class system is still existed in the family, workplace, society and country. Under the circumstance, how could it be possible for the people to feel the freedom and equality in heart?

 

In the history and in the modern time, some evil persons occupy the political resource. They steal the financial of country and bully the good person. Even though this, they still live well, have longevity and have many wealth. Most of the good persons could not fight for their right, because their brains are washed to be ignorant by ridiculous ideology. They are even to be died by ridiculous reasons. In other word, the inequality has still been there.

 

Even though the outer situation and phenomenon might make us feel unhappy and unbalanced in heart, the concept of Buddha’s teaching offers us another choice to let our heart in peace and to feel balanced and equal.

Each one is equal to becoming Buddha someday in future.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

  

It is really difficult for human beings to put the equality into the practice in heart. The inequality has existed since the ancient time. Unfortunately, most of the authority purposely rationalizes the inequality, and most of the ignorant civic have been washed the brain and accept the inequality. Even today, the inequality is still existed in everywhere, including the family, the society and the country.

 

Buddha Shakyamuni is the people before 2500 years ago. The background of his culture is deeply affected by the India. As we know, there is the caste system in India since ancient time. The caste system is an unfair social system. Even today, it is still existed in the society of India. Buddha Shakyamuni had perceived the inequality of caste system in his time.

 

In that time, the disciples question whether the slaver, the poor, the woman, and the criminal could become Buddha or not, Buddha Shakyamuni explains and teaches the disciples that all living beings have Buddha-nature. They and any one can become Buddha after completely bearing the retribution of their evil karma in future, present and past accumulated lives. In other word, each one is equal to becoming Buddha someday in future. But, regarding the process, the experience, the time, whether is the blessing or the retribution, which is depending on the personal’s causes and conditions. Such situation and phenomenon is some kind of changing and it would confuse us and let us have the feeling of inequality and injustice.   

 

Buddha Shakyamuni offers the concept of equality. Such equality is basing on the Buddha-nature. And it is not concerned about what your appearance is, what your color of eyes and skin is, what your gender is, what you have done, where you are born, and what your belief is.

 

It also not cares about what your race is, what your education is, what your social status is and what your wealth is. That is why the concept of equality in Buddhism is the true equality.