‘FREEDOM FROM HATRED’: THE ROLE OF KHANTI IN COMPLEMENTING THE WORK OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL)

ABSTRACT

This article explores the Buddhist quality of khanti. Khanti/kṣānti translates as patience, forbearance or tolerance, and includes the notions of non-retaliation and forgiveness. Understood in Buddhist texts as the opposite of anger and hatred, khanti may support measures of international humanitarian law (IHL) which prevent unlawful reprisals and other atrocities motivated by revenge in the context of war. As with IHL, Buddhism emphasises common humanity through the recognition of universal suffering. By drawing on Buddhist narratives and treatises, which apply the analysis of non-self (anattā) to anger itself as a basis for khanti, this article demonstrates that khanti is regarded as particularly appropriate for dealing with conflict. Khanti addresses the immediate psychological responses of victims of violence during conflict, thus offering immediate relief of suffering and preventing its further escalation. This article suggests that the brahmavihārās, particularly loving-kindness (mettā), may practically develop the quality of khanti. Just as mindfulness meditations have been used in the secular and global contexts, so too mettā practice as the development of khanti could be utilised alongside military training and the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross to enhance compliance with IHL.

KEYWORDS:

• Buddhism
• IHL
• khanti/kṣānti. mettā
• dosa (hate)
• kodha (anger)
• non-retaliation
• forbearance
• forgiveness

Abbreviations

AN Aṅguttara Nikāya, Bodhi (2012) translation, cited by nipāta and sutta.

Bca Bodhicaryāvatāra, Crosby and Skilton (1998) translation, cited by chapter and verse number.

Dhp Dhammapada, Roebuck (2010) translation, cited by verse number.

MN Majjhima Nikāya, Bodhi and Ñāṇamoli (1995) translation, cited by sutta number or volume and page number of Pali Text Society Pali edition.

SN Saṃyutta Nikāya, Bodhi (2000) translation, cited by saṃyutta and sutta number.

Vism Visuddhimagga, Ñāṇamoli (1991) translation, cited by chapter and section number.

Disclosure statement

This article has been supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alex Wakefield

Alex Wakefield is a writer and researcher. He holds a master’s degree in Buddhist studies from SOAS, University of London, with research focusing on Buddhist and ancient Indian cosmology. He has worked as a visiting lecturer at the University of Greenwich, and currently develops educational programmes for Buddhist centres in the UK.