Buddha and Montesquieu Summaries

An ongoing question in the world today is what is the best and most effective form of government to help guide a nation to prosperity? Is it a monarchy, democracy, republic or could it even be a dictatorship? Since this question is not only relevant to politicians but to society as a whole, many people have offered their opinion on the subject, including religious leaders such as the Buddha. But can a man dedicated to religion share similar ideals to a man dedicated to politics? In order to answer these questions as well as the question of what is the best form of government, this paper will examine the Buddha’s political philosophy and compare it with the French enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu and his view on how a government should operate. In order to fully grasp the Buddha’s political philosophy, it is crucial to understand the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism. The purpose of Buddhism is to reach spiritual enlightenment, in which, all of your world desires or cravings are subsided, and you enter into the highest spiritual state-of-being called nirvana. Nirvana can only be reached by living your life in a manner where your actions result in good Karma, moving you up on the plane of existence. Karma refers to the idea that all your actions have consequences in this life and the next, and these actions will shape your personality, which then will shape how you will be reincarnated in your next life. The responsibility of life is in the hands of the individual, and it is his or her duty to live in moderation and to not dwell on pain or misfortunes, which Buddha says are inevitable.
The Buddha says there are two kinds of searches or paths in life the noble and ignoble. The noble refers to seeking things that are not subject to worldly consequences such as aging or death and the ignoble refers to only being concerned with your immediate earthly desires. The Buddha teaches that since all things of this earth are impermanent. Those who place their

Cited: Montesquieu, Baron “Chapter III” Spirit of the Laws. (1914): 114-141. Print. Walshe, Maurice. “Aggañña Sutta: On Knowledge of beginnings” The Long Discourses of Buddha. The Teachings of Buddha (1987): 407-415. Print. Walshe, Maurice. “Cakkavatti-Szhaniida Sutta: The Lion 's Roar on the Turning of the Wheel” The Long Discourses of Buddha. The Teachings of Buddha (1987): 395-405. Print.