Abstract
This thesis consisted of three objectives. They were to (1) study the concept of Mahatma Gandhi’s’s non-violence, (2) study whether concept of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and the concept of loving-kindness (Metta) in Theravada Buddhist philosophy are the same thing or not.
The results were found as follows:
From the study, it was found that Mahatma Gandhi applied his non-violence for protesting the British government in India for independence together with satyagraha which was a way of severe determination to stand for the truth and the rightness with the intention to sacrifice everything. According to Mahatma Gandhi’s concept, the main concept was to control the mind from the hatred which would cause the severe violence and serious fighting. There would be a protest with fairness, frigidness, and silence to the public and aggressors by considering the reasons of aggression and giving them the time to reconsider. The Satyagraha would let the aggressors know their intention to protest with non-violence although a group of aggressors would not correct their mistakes.
The concept of Metta in Theravada Buddhist philosophy was separated into three levels: basic, average, and high. Metta in the basic level referred to generousness freeing from hurting each other, but it helped the human to live together peacefully including creating peace to the world. Metta in the average level was virtue to develop our mind to the state of pureness, desire decrease, problems decrease, and suffering decrease. Metta in the high level was virtue to help people to get rid of their selfness, desire, and problems freeing from Āsava (mental intoxications). Metta could happen in three ways: bodily, verbal, and mental. Metta with desire or Metta without intelligence. Those who always spread Metta continuously will get its benefit in two ways: present life, and life after death.
To analyze whether the concept of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and Metta in Theravada Buddhist philosophy are the same thing or not. According to the meaning of non-violence and Metta, the non-violence is the same thing as Metta in Theravadah Buddhist philosophy because of wanting people to live together happily without disturbing both in the duty and freedom. More importantly, there would be love, and Metta. It can be proved that Metta and non-violence are the same thing. Everyone has to love, be patient with the pure and sincerity both in public and behind. Metta is the most important factor that being free from hurting each other. The main purpose of non-violence and Metta focuses on living with each other happily. Moreover, those with high authority should have Metta which will not harm those with weakness, and less energy leading to creating the society happily.
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