The Role of Buddhism in Promoting Peace and Harmony: A Multidimensional Review of Philosophical Foundations, Historical Applications, and Contemporary Relevance
Keywords:
Buddhism; Peace, Non-Violence; Conflict Resolution; Engaged Buddhism
Abstract
Buddhism, one of the world's great spiritual traditions, offers a highly developed philosophical and ethical system focused on non-violence (ahimsa), compassion (karuṇā), loving-kindness (mettā), and the interdependence of all phenomena (pratītyasamutpāda). Drawing on doctrinal frameworks, historical case studies, and contemporary empirical studies, this narrative review argues that core Buddhist teachings including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Five Precepts provide a systematic basis for non-violent conflict resolution, ethical governance, and social cohesion. Figures such as Emperor Ashoka, the Dalai Lama, and Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrate how Buddhist peacebuilding has been put into practice across centuries. Beyond these examples, the review examines Engaged Buddhism, the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement, mindfulness-based interventions, interfaith dialogue, Buddhist economics, and environmental ethics. It also critically investigates the tension between Buddhist peace ideals and episodes of Buddhist nationalism and ethno-religious violence in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Research gaps are identified, and future directions are suggested. The paper concludes that Buddhism presents a genuinely integrative path toward peace one that tackles the root causes of conflict through inner transformation, going beyond empathy and forgiveness, while also offering practical frameworks for social, economic, and ecological harmony.
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Ramli, A. F., Ashath, M., & Moghri, A. (2023). A comparative study on the notion of dialogue in Islam and Buddhism. Afkar: Jurnal Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, 25(2), 67–110. https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol25no2.3
Saksana, R. (2010). Buddhism and its message of peace. In 38th ICANAS: International Congress of Asian and North African Studies proceedings. Atatürk Kültür Merkezi Başkanlığı.
Schumacher, E. F. (1973). Small is beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered. Blond & Briggs.
Sivaraksa, S. (2005). Conflict, culture, change: Engaged Buddhism in a globalizing world. Wisdom Publications.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Sohaib, A., & Aktar, A. (2025). Reimagining climate justice through Buddhist ethical principles. The Academic, 3(6), 1202–1214.
Thich Nhat Hanh. (1987). Being peace. Parallax Press.
Thich Nhat Hanh. (2008). The world we have: A Buddhist approach to peace and ecology. Parallax Press.
Tiwary, K. N., & Sharma, N. (2024). Buddhism and non-violence: Exploring the relationship between Buddhist teachings and conflict resolution. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(6), 1389–1396. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i6.2024.2332
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Walton, M. J. (2023). Nationalism, violence and war in Myanmar’s Theravāda Buddhist context. In M. Kitts (Ed.), The Cambridge companion to religion and war (pp. 369–382). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009160483.019
Wang, C. (2025). Beyond mindfulness: How Buddhist meditation transforms consciousness through distinct psychological pathways. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1649564. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649564
Weng, H. Y., Fox, A. S., Shackman, A. J., Stodola, D. E., Caldwell, J. Z. K., Olson, M. C., Rogers, G. M., & Davidson, R. J. (2013). Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychological Science, 24(7), 1171–1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612469537
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/356119
Zalta, A. (2022). “Dual awakening?” Mindful social action in the light of the de-contextualization of socially engaged Buddhism. Poligrafi, 27(105/106), 149–163. https://doi.org/10.35469/poligrafi.2022.353
Zinchenko, V., & Boichenko, M. (2022). Buddhist economics as a return to a rational model of economic management. The Journal of Philosophical Economics, XV (1), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.46298/jpe.10032
Barnes, M. H. (Ed.). (1992). An ecology of the spirit: Religious reflection and environmental consciousness. University Press of America.
Bodhi, B. (2005). In the Buddha’s words: An anthology of discourses from the Pali Canon. Wisdom Publications.
Calderone, A., Latella, D., Impellizzeri, F., de Pasquale, P., Famà, F., Quartarone, A., & Calabrò, R. S. (2024). Neurobiological changes induced by mindfulness and meditation: A systematic review. Biomedicines, 12(11), 2613. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112613
Chappus, E., & Nourse, B. (2023). Buddhist nationalism: Rising religious violence in South Asia. DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive, 4(2), Article 1. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/duurj/vol4/iss2/1
Ferrari, R. (2015). Writing narrative style literature reviews. Medical Writing, 24(4), 230–235. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000329
Fox, R. (2019). Non-duality in action: Buddhist peace initiatives in Israel-Palestine. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 34(2), 291–308. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2019.1621547
Gethin, R. (1998). The foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press.
Gold Mercury International. (2025). Gold Mercury Award 2025 honours His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for his leadership in peace, compassion, and environmental stewardship. Gold Mercury International. https://www.goldmercury.org/blog/gold-mercury-award-2025-the-dalai-lama
Goldberg, S. B., Tucker, R. P., Greene, P. A., Davidson, R. J., Wampold, B. E., Kearney, D. J., & Simpson, T. L. (2018). Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 59, 52–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.011
Green, B. N., Johnson, C. D., & Adams, A. (2006). Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: Secrets of the trade. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 5(3), 101–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60142-6
Harvey, P. (2000). An introduction to Buddhist ethics: Foundations, values and issues. Cambridge University Press.
Hayashi-Smith, M. (2011). Contesting Buddhisms on conflicted land: Sarvodaya Shramadana and Buddhist peacemaking. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 38(2), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3605
Jenkins, S. (2018). Dependent origination. In D. Cozort & J. M. Shields (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Buddhist ethics (pp. 42–61). Oxford University Press.
Jerryson, M. K., & Juergensmeyer, M. (Eds.). (2010). Buddhist warfare. Oxford University Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness. Delacorte Press.
Kaza, S. (2017). Green Buddhism. In M. Jerryson (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of contemporary Buddhism (pp. 594–613). Oxford University Press.
Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1041–1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006
King, S. B. (2009). Socially engaged Buddhism. University of Hawai‘i Press.
Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Ricard, M., & Singer, T. (2014). Differential pattern of functional brain plasticity after compassion and empathy training. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 9(6), 873–879. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nst060
Kumar, U. (2021). A study on King Ashoka’s achievements in relevance to present scenario. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 11(4), 386–395.
Li, S., Zhong, N., & Guo, Q. (2024). How does dispositional mindfulness foster prosocial behavior? A cross-cultural study of empathy’s mediating role and cultural moderation. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1451138. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1451138
Masaki, K., & Tshering, J. (2025). Prospects of rural-based businesses in pursuit of a “Gross National Happiness economy”: Transforming the Bhutanese economy into a “beating heart.” Journal of Emerging Markets and Management, 1(2), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.63385/jemm.v1i2.109
Nguyen, T. C., & Kumar, P. D. S. P. (2024). Reinterpreting the Buddhist Five Precepts for digital ethics in contemporary Vietnam: A moral education perspective. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 30(1), 7907–7910. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i1.11025
Queen, C. S., & King, S. B. (Eds.). (1996). Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist liberation movements in Asia. State University of New York Press.
Rakhitha, V. T., & Singh, R. (2025). Apology and forgiveness: Buddhist psychological approach to peace, conflict resolution, and reconciliation. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(12), 3659–3666. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200284
Ramli, A. F., Ashath, M., & Moghri, A. (2023). A comparative study on the notion of dialogue in Islam and Buddhism. Afkar: Jurnal Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, 25(2), 67–110. https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol25no2.3
Saksana, R. (2010). Buddhism and its message of peace. In 38th ICANAS: International Congress of Asian and North African Studies proceedings. Atatürk Kültür Merkezi Başkanlığı.
Schumacher, E. F. (1973). Small is beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered. Blond & Briggs.
Sivaraksa, S. (2005). Conflict, culture, change: Engaged Buddhism in a globalizing world. Wisdom Publications.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Sohaib, A., & Aktar, A. (2025). Reimagining climate justice through Buddhist ethical principles. The Academic, 3(6), 1202–1214.
Thich Nhat Hanh. (1987). Being peace. Parallax Press.
Thich Nhat Hanh. (2008). The world we have: A Buddhist approach to peace and ecology. Parallax Press.
Tiwary, K. N., & Sharma, N. (2024). Buddhism and non-violence: Exploring the relationship between Buddhist teachings and conflict resolution. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(6), 1389–1396. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i6.2024.2332
Ura, K., Alkire, S., Zangmo, T., & Wangdi, K. (2012). An extensive analysis of GNH index. Centre for Bhutan Studies.
Walpola Rahula. (1974). What the Buddha taught (Rev. ed.). Grove Press.
Walton, M. J. (2023). Nationalism, violence and war in Myanmar’s Theravāda Buddhist context. In M. Kitts (Ed.), The Cambridge companion to religion and war (pp. 369–382). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009160483.019
Wang, C. (2025). Beyond mindfulness: How Buddhist meditation transforms consciousness through distinct psychological pathways. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1649564. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649564
Weng, H. Y., Fox, A. S., Shackman, A. J., Stodola, D. E., Caldwell, J. Z. K., Olson, M. C., Rogers, G. M., & Davidson, R. J. (2013). Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychological Science, 24(7), 1171–1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612469537
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/356119
Zalta, A. (2022). “Dual awakening?” Mindful social action in the light of the de-contextualization of socially engaged Buddhism. Poligrafi, 27(105/106), 149–163. https://doi.org/10.35469/poligrafi.2022.353
Zinchenko, V., & Boichenko, M. (2022). Buddhist economics as a return to a rational model of economic management. The Journal of Philosophical Economics, XV (1), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.46298/jpe.10032
Published
2026-03-26
How to Cite
Paudel, B. (2026). The Role of Buddhism in Promoting Peace and Harmony: A Multidimensional Review of Philosophical Foundations, Historical Applications, and Contemporary Relevance. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 9(4), 222-235. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v9i4.3372
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