Author: Most Ven. Dr. Thich Tri Quang

The concepts of "integration" and "globalization" have been increasingly mentioned and discussed in the mass media these days. There appear to be two opposite tendencies regarding globalization. Some people fear that globalization will lead to a situation in which the rich and strong countries will govern, dominating small and poor countries and imposing their power on these smaller countries' sovereignty.

On the contrary, the majority of countries suppose that in this civilized world, the relationships among human beings and among nations are very important. Indeed, many believe the interactive relationships among countries and religions will create advantageous conditions for nations to support one another with respect to ideology, culture, politics, and economics, as well as other aspects. It is thought that nations will learn from one another and will discover the positive things to help improve people's lives in many fields. This mutual beneficial cooperation is a positive outcome of globalization. However, in terms of the relationships among countries, it is inevitable that the unhealthy aspects of cultures will have a negative influence on other countries, and activities, no longer suitable for the civilization, will regress.

For the Buddhism present in the situation of globalization, what is its point of view in these two opposite tendencies? We know that Buddhism has a policy of considering wisdom as a career. Therefore, under the view of the disciple led by wisdom, the interactions among human beings, and human beings and other species toward the outer world is very important and necessary. Indeed, by integration into the global environment, building intensive and extensive interactions with many countries and many people is possible. We then have the opportunity to approach and understand the world's civilizations, and we can use the good things in life to perfect ourselves and those around us in order to improve the world.

When the Buddha was still alive, he learned about and received the existing civilization. Typically, he directly consulted two famous philosophers, Kamala and Udraka Ramaputra, for their ideas. Owing to those relationships and learning, Buddha clearly recognized the mistake of the heterodox thoughts at the time. He then found the truth to free himself which strongly affected the society at that time.

From the intensive and extensive interactions with society, the Buddha gradually extended Buddhism's strength to other religions to teach people how to discover wrong thinking and their own mistakes, how to help them lead intelligent and moral lives, and how to make their organizations beneficial for many people. Due to the attention and teaching of the Buddha, some religious leaders have naturally abided with the Buddha such as Sariputta, Mogallana, Kassapa, and others. In addition, some religious leaders left wrongly led religious lives to follow the holy life of Buddhism, taking on wisdom as their career.

After the Nirvana of the Buddha, the true disciples have inherited the altruistic career of the Buddha. Coming from the Indian civilization, they have included the civilizations of the Middle East, Egypt, and Greece to form the Mahayana Buddhist ideology. On the way to spreading Buddhism, then coming to the Chinese, Buddhist teachers have also reached the famous native civilizations that are the philosophical ideologies of Kong, Lao, and Zhuan Zi to bring the Mahayana ideology to its glorious peak in China, as well as to Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

With the expression of "taking on wisdom as a career", if it were to be expressed in today's language, Buddhism would really show the spirit of globalization. Because of its touch of wisdom, its disciples have integrated the civilizations of mankind on their way to the propagation of faith with altruism, in the sense of "integration and globalization". This core has constantly been propagated by Buddhist teachers, and has helped Buddhism to exist and develop for more than 2000 years. Up until now, Buddhism is still the guideline for people to live happily in this world.

Translated by Ven. Dr. Thich Thien Quy