What does the Buddhist's holy book say on punishment?
Answers
Buddhists believe all people should demonstrate loving-kindness and compassion but accept that some do wrong, misuse their free will and cause dukkha to others.
The Five Precepts are guidelines for Buddhists to live their lives. Buddhists try to avoid a number of things including taking life, taking what is not given, and sexual misconduct.
The Eightfold Path teaches Buddhists how to live their lives in the right way to reach enlightenment. If Buddhists go against these teachings or guidelines to commit crime, they would be going against their religious beliefs. Buddhist believe in karma or 'intentional action'. Performing negative actions will build up bad merit.
Belief in samsara means that Buddhists hope to be reborn as something greater in each life and, ultimately, reach enlightenment. This means that many Buddhists will not commit crime and believe it is their duty to protect the weak in society.
Most Buddhists believe that criminals should be punished for their actions, but Buddhists have strong views about punishment in this world:
inhumane treatment of an offender does not solve their behaviour or those of humanity in general - the best approach is to reform them
punishment should only be enough for the offender to make amends, and his rehabilitation into society should be a priority
punishing an offender with excessive cruelty is damaging to both the criminal and the person administering the punishment
it is impossible to administer severe punishment with compassion, and Buddhists should be compassionate
a serious crime may see a person banished from the community or country in order to protect the rest of society