Eliminating Unnecessary Suffering in War: A Review on the Applicability of International Humanitarian Law and Selected Theravada Buddhist Principles in the Time of Armed Conflict

Abstract

International Humanitarian Law and Theravada Buddhism are two different disciplines. While International Humanitarian Law tends to protect humanity during an armed conflict, Theravada Buddhism seeks to attain the supreme bliss of ‘Nirvāna’ in order to make an end to the suffering throughout the long way of ‘Samsāra’. As a religious philosophy, Buddhism acknowledges that unskillfulness (akusala) based on greed (lōbha), hatred (dōsa) and delusion (mōha) is the cause of human suffering. On the other hand, International Humanitarian Law urges belligerents to balance military necessity and humanity by following the principles of Distinction, Proportionality, and Precaution, aiming to reduce suffering on the battlefield. Theravada Buddhist philosophy always emphasizes that the elimination of suffering is not a collective effort but an individual effort. Therefore, each individual is responsible for their own self-spiritual liberation. However, International Humanitarian Law addresses...