Political Concept in the Viewpoint of Theravada Buddhist Philosophy

Abstract

This article is intended to illustrate that the current political concept, “the form of democracy” is the power given to the people who have the most benefit to the government obtained from the government, adhere to the principle of freedom and rights. Eliminate class discrimination to achieve equality in society. Focusing on the protection of rights and freedoms and ensuring the rights and freedoms of people by using equality principles, to the sovereignty of the people. Focusing on the spirit of the people and the principle of governing by majority. As for the political concept, “the form of dictatorship” is the rule that the government has all the power to control on taking care of the resources of the country. And is responsible for the production of society more than to be the duty of the market mechanism as well as responsible for setting social values. Ideals that allow people to adhere to various laws issued by the government leaders and having the power to make decisions are limited to only a handful of people, giving all leaders the power to govern. For the political direction in Theravada Buddhist philosophy focuses on leaders or leaders who are responsible for the administration of the country and ruling the people must have morality by adhering to the principles that the Lord Buddha had teach to be apply to government, to allow leaders to have moral principles higher than ordinary people and use the law as necessary, by emphasizing the principle that is the guideline of the correctness of the government. And it was found that the concepts, principles and goals of politics at present, in the view of Theravada Buddhist philosophy, there are some conflicts but not so much that they cannot go together, only the current political concept will focus only on seeking power and benefits in this world. While political concepts in Theravada Buddhist philosophy is used for happiness in this world and the next world. With the greatest benefit that does not have to be in this world and the next world. It has a broader meaning and will adhere to the principles applied to political concepts.