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**HoniSoniproca** · 12-15-2010, 10:53 PM

I agree that Marxism is not about personal liberation so it is meaningless to compare any socio-political view with the Buddha's teachings of not-self. Marxism (or any economic theory for that matter) is about a social order in which people live in harmony under the slogan "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs".

I think the Buddha taught the lay people of his time how to live a good lay life according to the social order that prevailed at that time. He did not try to disturb the socio-economic environment. That was not what he wanted to teach. Thus he taught them compassion, encouraged charity and equality. He also explicitly criticized the cast/creed separation of the ancient society. So it is not completely wrong to say the Buddha's views of a good lay life is somewhat close to socialism. However, the core message the Buddha wanted to pass around was about personal liberation.

Karl Marx on the other hand explained a social order and an economic theory which discourage the private ownership of the means of production. He did not say one should not accumulate wealth or live a good life.

12-15-2010, 10:53 PM	#14
HoniSoniproca Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 417 Senior Member	I agree that Marxism is not about personal liberation so it is meaningless to compare any socio-political view with the Buddha's teachings of not-self. Marxism (or any economic theory for that matter) is about a social order in which people live in harmony under the slogan "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs". I think the Buddha taught the lay people of his time how to live a good lay life according to the social order that prevailed at that time. He did not try to disturb the socio-economic environment. That was not what he wanted to teach. Thus he taught them compassion, encouraged charity and equality. He also explicitly criticized the cast/creed separation of the ancient society. So it is not completely wrong to say the Buddha's views of a good lay life is somewhat close to socialism. However, the core message the Buddha wanted to pass around was about personal liberation. Karl Marx on the other hand explained a social order and an economic theory which discourage the private ownership of the means of production. He did not say one should not accumulate wealth or live a good life.
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