ABSTRACT
The Buddhist religion, when imagined as a monolithic entity, is often conceived as a peaceful religion, advocating meditation and calm mental states and behavior. Like many stereotypes, this characterization is not entirely accurate. It is inadequate insofar as it fails to accurately characterize the great diversity of Buddhist traditions and Buddhist individuals. While many Buddhists do advocate peace – as well as virtues that contribute to peace, such as patience, compassion, and loving kindness – Buddhists have varied considerably in their adherence to these virtues, and Buddhist communities have not been immune to conflict. The history of Buddhism is replete with examples of controversy and conflict between competing sectarian traditions.
