Buddhism, history and politics: new website section and the connection between Dharma and politics

‘One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.’ –Plato

“Let no one, however, say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French-Revolution. I have not. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my Master, the Buddha. In his philosophy, liberty and equality had a place. (…)”.–Dr. BR Ambedkar

‘If you want to know who rules over you, just look for who you are not allowed to criticize.’ –Voltaire

As there are now several articles on more “worldly/political” matters in Tibetan and Vajrayana Buddhism, such as Gelugpa sectarianism in Tibet and exile, the history of Tibet and Ladakh, 10th Karmapa’s exile in South China, ignoring/undermining of Buddhist women’s voices and history, the 17th Karmapa’s situation and so on, here is a new website section History & Politics listing all such articles for easier reference and discovery.

Generally speaking, Buddhist practitioners steer clear of worldly politics and making statements and judgements about politicians, like Donald Trump and so on.  That is not to say Buddhists do not care about the suffering in the world, they do care and are also meditating on generating more compassion for themselves and others.  That said, authentic Buddhist practitioners, generally have come to some understanding that no amount of external change will rid oneself and others of suffering in samsara. That change can only come from within, by reducing and eliminating the mental afflictions and inner states.   By changing one’s inner world, the outer world will also start to transform naturally.  So spending lots of time (and effort) discussing world politics online or in heated debates in person, is generally seen as being unwise, and not even that effective in the long term.

That ‘disinterest’ can come at a price. “The personal is political” as the women’s liberation feminists declared, emphasising that our disinterest and lack of involvement in politics, means out personal and private lives will be at mercy of politicians and those who write the PR/HIStory. The slogan is believed to have originated from Carol Hanisch‘s 1970 essay titled The Personal is Political.  Also, “not being political” is a political stance/statement in itself.  Like silence is a response.

However, Dharma practitioners will generally try to effect change by setting the example, rather than getting others to change and so on. Be the light unto yourself and others, as Buddha taught. Or as Gandhi ji said: “Be a mirror unto the world”.

Buddha the revolutionary on caste and women

Let us not forget that the fully awakened supreme being, Shakyamuni Buddha himself was one of the greatest revolutionary radicals of his time in India, allowing women to “leave home” and become mendincant wandering nuns, and lower outcastes to be equal members of the spiritual community on a level with Brahmins from some of the wealthiest families in India, such as Mahakassapa,  in the patriarchal Hindu/Indian culture.  One of the Bodhisattva vows is also to protect beings and the teachings from harm and fear.

For more on Buddha’s radical innovations to give women (and lower castes) equal status in his community, see here.

Noble Tārā, the first Buddhist feminist

In addition, some have called Noble Tārā “the first Buddhist feminist” when she took a “political stance” on her only appearing in a woman’s body saying that:

“Those who wish to attain supreme enlightenment in a man’s body are many, but those who wish to serve the aims of beings in a woman’s body are few indeed; therefore may I, until this world is emptied out, work for the benefit of sentient beings in a woman’s body.”

For more on this statue and other depictions of Tārā that were censored for sexist, puritanical reasons, see here.

Dr. Ambedkar’s Buddhist-inspired notion of democracy and equality

The Buddha’s ancient “teaching” and “policy” of  inclusion and equanimity led Dr. BR Ambedkar (1891-1956) who served as Law and Justice minister in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru, to later renounce Hinduism, convert to Buddhism and inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement of non-Hindu, lower caste Indian Buddhists, still relevant to this day. Ambedkar himself was born into a Mahar (Dalit) caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination. As Ambedkar stated, democracy was not some European ideal/origin but had its roots in Buddha’s teachings and community:

“Let no one, however, say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French-Revolution. I have not. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my Master, the Buddha. In his philosophy, liberty and equality had a place. (…)”.

Ambedkar had openly shared his concern and belief that the lack of a strong democratic tradition, the widespread presence of ‘bhakti’ or political ‘hero worship’ and the large gap between the republican promises of the Constitution and socio-economic inequality, made losing democratic freedoms in the future a distinct and ever-present possibility. More on Ambedkar in another article perhaps!

In sum, the point being that wrongly considering Dharma and politics as totally unconnected matters, is like regarding daily life and Dharma practice as separate too. The difference between a Buddhist and a worldly person in relation to politics, is that a Buddhist practitioner, always maintains a view of samsara and emptiness when engaging with it, and does not allow worldly politics, disputes and allegiances to take up much (if any) of their time and energy.  Whereas a worldly person will follow worldly news and politics daily with great interest and get very caught up in it and its up and down, unreliable alliances and policies. It is all a matter of how we spend our time, and what we do with what engages (or obsesses) us) and whether it increases or decreases our afflictions or not.

Here is a short reel I made on this topic too.

Adele Tomlin, 25th March 2025.