Majority Rule with Respect to Minority Rights in Theravada Buddhism

Abstract

     This research has three objectives: (1) to study the principle of the majority rule in Theravada Buddhism (2) to study the principle of minority rights protection in Theravada Buddhism and (3) to study the principle of majority rule with respect to minority rights in Theravada Buddhism. The research methodology is documentary one. Tipitaka (Pali Canon) and the related academic works are the main sources. The research found that in Theravada Buddhism, only the idea of ‘Majority Rule’ has played the important role in the decision on public issues, but there is no any idea of ‘Minority Rights Protection’. This leads to the conclusion that there is no the idea of ‘Majority Rule with Respect to Minority Rights’ in Theravada Buddhism.