<p>The Buddha did not intend monks to participate in politics, as seen in <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 2</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Whereas some brahmans and contemplatives, living off food given in
  faith, are addicted to talking about lowly topics such as these —
  talking about kings, robbers, ministers of state; armies, alarms, and
  battles; food and drink; clothing, furniture, garlands, and scents;
  relatives; vehicles; villages, towns, cities, the countryside; women
  and heroes; the gossip of the street and the well; tales of the dead;
  tales of diversity [philosophical discussions of the past and future],
  the creation of the world and of the sea, and talk of whether things
  exist or not — he abstains from talking about lowly topics such as
  these. This, too, is part of his virtue.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, the Buddha did intend for lay people to participate in constructive nation building, in accordance with the Dhamma in <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 16</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>At that time the Venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning him, and the Blessed One addressed the Venerable
  Ananda thus: "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis have frequent
  gatherings, and are their meetings well attended?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that this is so."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis assemble and disperse
  peacefully and attend to their affairs in concord?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they do."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis neither enact new decrees
  nor abolish existing ones, but proceed in accordance with their
  ancient constitutions?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they do."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor,
  esteem, and veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to
  listen to them?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they do."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis refrain from abducting
  women and maidens of good families and from detaining them?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they refrain from doing so."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor,
  esteem, and veneration towards their shrines, both those within the
  city and those outside it, and do not deprive them of the due
  offerings as given and made to them formerly?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that
  they do not deprive them of their offerings."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline.</p>
  
  <p>"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis duly protect and guard the
  arahats, so that those who have not come to the realm yet might do so,
  and those who have already come might live there in peace?"</p>
  
  <p>"I have heard, Lord, that they do."</p>
  
  <p>"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
  be expected, not their decline."</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T14:57:04.367Z
2018-07-31T14:57:04.367Z
ruben2020
<p>Lord buddha didn't refuse economical and physical development of a person while he practices dhamma..By reading <a href="http://buddhasutra.com/files/kutadanta_sutta.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kutadanta Sutta</a> and  <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vyagghapajja Sutta</a>you can get a comprehension on these things..
And otherwise for politicians can refer <a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Seven-Conditions-of-Welfare-Sapta-Aparihani-Dhamma--112710.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">saptha aparihai dharma</a>   and <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/dasajajadhamma.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dasa raja dharma</a>,in order to understand their duty</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T22:39:08.690Z
2018-07-31T22:39:08.690Z
madhawavish
<p>In modern society most politicians and banks are corrupt and only care to gain more money &amp; power. They do not care about the welfare of the citizens. What would the dhammic response be? Activism and Dhamma should be incorporated or not or partially?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T14:43:10.850Z
See also [Did the Buddha try to effect social change?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/9405/254)
ChrisW
<reference-request><right-intention><right-action>
Does the Dhamma suggest to change external unfavourable conditions
# Does the Dhamma suggest to change external unfavourable conditions

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-31)

In modern society most politicians and banks are corrupt and only care to gain more money & power. They do not care about the welfare of the citizens. What would the dhammic response be? Activism and Dhamma should be incorporated or not or partially?

**Tags:** reference-request, right-intention, right-action

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See also [Did the Buddha try to effect social change?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/9405/254)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-31. Score: 1

The Buddha did not intend monks to participate in politics, as seen in [DN 2](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html):

> "Whereas some brahmans and contemplatives, living off food given in
> faith, are addicted to talking about lowly topics such as these —
> talking about kings, robbers, ministers of state; armies, alarms, and
> battles; food and drink; clothing, furniture, garlands, and scents;
> relatives; vehicles; villages, towns, cities, the countryside; women
> and heroes; the gossip of the street and the well; tales of the dead;
> tales of diversity [philosophical discussions of the past and future],
> the creation of the world and of the sea, and talk of whether things
> exist or not — he abstains from talking about lowly topics such as
> these. This, too, is part of his virtue.

However, the Buddha did intend for lay people to participate in constructive nation building, in accordance with the Dhamma in [DN 16](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html):

> At that time the Venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning him, and the Blessed One addressed the Venerable
> Ananda thus: "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis have frequent
> gatherings, and are their meetings well attended?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that this is so."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis assemble and disperse
> peacefully and attend to their affairs in concord?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they do."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis neither enact new decrees
> nor abolish existing ones, but proceed in accordance with their
> ancient constitutions?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they do."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor,
> esteem, and veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to
> listen to them?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they do."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis refrain from abducting
> women and maidens of good families and from detaining them?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they refrain from doing so."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor,
> esteem, and veneration towards their shrines, both those within the
> city and those outside it, and do not deprive them of the due
> offerings as given and made to them formerly?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that
> they do not deprive them of their offerings."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline.
>
> "What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis duly protect and guard the
> arahats, so that those who have not come to the realm yet might do so,
> and those who have already come might live there in peace?"
>
> "I have heard, Lord, that they do."
>
> "So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to
> be expected, not their decline."


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-31. Score: 0

Lord buddha didn't refuse economical and physical development of a person while he practices dhamma..By reading [Kutadanta Sutta](http://buddhasutra.com/files/kutadanta_sutta.htm) and [Vyagghapajja Sutta](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html)you can get a comprehension on these things..
And otherwise for politicians can refer [saptha aparihai dharma](http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Seven-Conditions-of-Welfare-Sapta-Aparihani-Dhamma--112710.html) and [dasa raja dharma](http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/dasajajadhamma.htm),in order to understand their duty


---

