145 MINDFUL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE: A BUDDHIST APPROACH WITH REFERENCE TO UN CHARTER by Sandeep Chandrabhanji Nagarale* ABSTRACT We have witnessed the two disastrous world wars, which have devastating effects on the humanity. Our society has faced so much havoc at that time only due to wrong leadership, which brought untrustworthiness towards them by community. Therefore, establishment of UN was necessary which is committed for Maintenance of international peace and security. What we need is the attentive and thoughtful leadership for sustainable peace and harmony. The Buddha’s teaching finds the way for universal peace. It brings harmony in thought process, ultimately needed for reconciliation and understanding which is require for overall development of individual and society. Five precepts (Panchsila) and Ten Parmitas remain the backbone of Buddha’s philosophy. This philosophy has potential to tranquil human mind and companionship approach towards society. It teaches that the sole aim of human existence is peace and not a war. Morality and ethics are supreme values for human survival in spite of higher intellectual technologies. If leaders are not morally awaked then the society they are governing will remain discontented and never lead a healthy life. As mental and physical healths of individual are important *. Asst. Professor., Amolakchand Law College, Yavatmal, India. 146 MINDFUL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE for social harmony, leaders should accomplish themselves by pursuing spiritual health for self-development by means of Buddha’s Philosophy. So that sound thought- process will bring harmony among society for universal peace. i. In this backdrop, certain issues have been discussed in the present paper. The objectives of the research are as under. ii. To discuss the present day scenario in respect of mindful leadership and sustainable peace. iii. To evaluate the Buddhist approach in respect of mindful leadership and sustainable peace. iv. To focus on the relevant provisions of the UN Charter for maintenance of peace in the world. v. To compare the Buddhist teachings with the UN Charter. vi. To suggest the remedial measures for mindful leadership for sustainable peace. 1. WORLD PEACE – PRESENT SCENARIO After the two world wars, considering its devastating effects on human being and environment it was expected from the world community to lead the life with peace and harmony. The establishment of the United Nations in the year 1945 was one of the great works done by the then leadership in the right direction of maintaining peace. Nevertheless, it seems that in spite of The Charter provisions the world is not safe for humanity. The quest for power by different leaders driven them to be part of havoc on different parts of the world. There are no. of issues which the world are facing since long time includes genocide, poverty, migration, refugees rehabilitation, gender discrimination, arms race together with nuclear and biological weapons, extreme religious violence, food - health and hygiene, etc. Of course, the United Nations through its different specialised agencies are trying to deal with these issues. However, one thing must not be forgotten that these issues are somewhere at the root of violence in the world. Hence, it is pertinent to consider the primary purpose and MINDFUL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE: A BUDDHIST APPROACH 147 principles of United Nations. Article 1 clearly says, i) to maintain international peace and security and to that end; to take effective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about the peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace. ii) to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace. iii) To achieve international cooperation in solving international problem of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; and iv) To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. Article 2. - The organisation and its members, in pursuit of the purposes stated in Article1, shall act in accordance with the following principles: i. The organisation is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members. ii. All members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present charter. iii. All members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. iv. All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations. v. All members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to 148 MINDFUL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE State against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action. vi. The organisation shall ensure that States which are not members of the United Nations act in accordance with these principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security. vii. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorised the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State or shall require the member to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII . If the world leaders decided to act according to the principles enshrined in the Charter, there will be peace in the world. Friendly relations and cooperation at international level is expected. However, we are not acting accordingly. There are number of incidences took place after the establishment of United Nations Charter. It clearly shows that the basic purpose of maintenance of international peace and security is affected. The examples are - Russian Intervention in Hungary, 1956; Intervention by U.K, France and Israel in Egypt (1956). American Intervention in Cuba (1962); American Intervention in Cambodia; U.S. troops land in the Dominican Republic (1965);Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia ,1968; The Turkish invasion on Cyprus (1974), Indo Pak war (1965) , Indo-China war(1962), The Vietnamese Intervention in Cambodia (1978); Tanzanian Invasion in Uganda , 1979-1980; The Afghan Issue: 1986; Argentine Intervention in Falkland Islands(1982); United States invades Grenada (1983); The U.S. Intervention in Nicaragua(1984); U.S Attack on Libya (1986). American Intervention in Panama (1989); Iraqi invasion and annexation of Kuwait (1990); Somaliya Conflict (1992- 93); The NATO interventionin Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992); Intervention in Haiti 1994-Rwandan intervention in Eastern Congo (1996); Conflict in Kosovo ,Russia –Chechnya Conflict; The United States invasion of Afghanistan (2001); American MINDFUL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE: A BUDDHIST APPROACH 149 intervention in Iraq (2003); Israeli Air strikes Against Syria (2003); Israel – Lebanon Conflict (2006);Russian Invasion of Georgia (2008); The NATO Intervention in Libya (2011);Kenya’s Military Intervention in Somalia (2011); Mali Conflicts and Intervention by France (2012-13); Saudi Arabian Intervention in Yemen (2015); The ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia (2017). It reveals that, these conflicts are due to lack of strong and mindful leadership. Hence, we required the leadership based on Buddhist philosophy to lead the life with peace. Similarly , 9/11 attack on twin towers of America , 26/11 attack in Mumbai (India), and alike incidences in Russia, France ,Britain etc. places indicates the violent mind of extremist & terrorist to create violence and kill innocent people. They are enemy of the human being. Hence, Buddhist way of life is the only answer for peace of mind of individuals. The exploitation of the working class by businesspersons also subject to create the sense of insecurity in the minds of working class. The selfishness and exploiting attitude on the part of industrialist shows the carelessness due to greedy mindset. It ultimately resulted into class conflicts. The above examples clearly indicate that, absence of mindful leadership is responsible for all kinds of conflicts irrespective of local, regional or international nature. Hence, to attain the sustainable peace in every occupation, world needed the conscious leaders from local to global level. 2. BUDDHIST APPROACH IN RESPECT OF MINDFUL LEADER- SHIP AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE Buddha, the enlightened one believes that everything in this world happen due to cause and reason. There is no any supernatural God behind activities in the universe. Everything is subject to change and impermanence (Annicha). It reveal that his philosophy is based on scientific principles. As far as