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Disagreement and conflict

Disagreement and conflict

Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on Approaching the Buddhist Path, the first book in “The Library of Wisdom and Compassion” series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.

  • How to tolerate and learn from others’ viewpoints
  • Addressing conflict with compassion
  • Six causes of disputes according to the sutras
  • Seeing the disadvantages of attitudes that lead to disputes
  • Why cooperation is more sustainable than competition

19 Approaching the Buddhist Path: Disagreement and Conflict (download)

Contemplation points

  1. The Buddha lays out the root of disputes (AN 6.36):
    “There are, O monastics, these six roots of disputes. What six? Here a monastic is (1) angry and vengeful, or (2) contemptuous and domineering, or (3) envious and miserly, or (4) deceitful and hypocritical, or (5) he has evil desires and wrong views, or (6) he adheres to his own views, holding to them tenaciously and relinquishing them with difficulty.“
    Which one of them do you do frequently and which do you see other people do?
  2. What are the benefits of each and what are the disadvantages?
  3. What practices can you apply to overcome each of these six roots of disputes?
Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.