Does Buddhism Even Advocate Human Rights? 3

In Buddhist thinking, Dhamma is a cosmic, or universal law, but it is impersonal and was not created by a law-giver, or god. There is no force to impose this law, neither is there a judge to punish the transgressor. Rather, embedded in the Dhamma is the Law of Kamma, or moral causation. This means that any moral action - anything to do, say or even think that has a moral dimension - has as automatic consequence, or effect.

The Buddha stressed that it is up to you whether you follow your duty or not, whether you respect another person or being's situation or not. He simply pointed out that there will be (good or bad) kammic consequences. The focus is clearly on the protagonist - the person committing the kammic act. A victim doesn't have a right to be protected from a 'sinner' determined to go to 'hell'.

It is important to consider that, like Jesus but unlike Muhammad, the Buddha was not a social reformer. He rejected the opportunity to become a king and institute political reforms. Rather, he founded a sub-community of renunciates - The Sangha. 'Renunciate' means someone who 'drops out' of society - in this case that means becoming a monk or nun. For the Sangha, the Buddha laid down 227 rules (+8 more for nuns) - all of the rules emphasise the responsibilities of the monks and aim for communal harmony. If any modern model can be suggested, the Sangha runs more along the lines of 'benevolent' socialism than liberal democracy from which the concept of universal (individual) human rights emerge.

I'll pause now for responses and questions.