AWEKENING CULTURE OF ASEAN

Abstract

The objective of this essay was to present the concept of awakening culture for solving the negative culture in ASEAN. The findings indicated that:

Negative culture is unpleasant behavior because it can cause damage and bring a bad impact to society. The negative culture in ASEAN has originated from Akusala Mūla in Buddhism. There are: Lobha (greed), which creates a culture of greed; Dosa (anger), which creates a culture of hate; and Moha (delusion), which creates a culture of enchantment. These three negative cultures are the cause of consumerism and materialism, which can finally lead to competition, scramble, persecution and war.

Awakening is the principle of Buddhism. There are two issues: one is waking up from Avijjā (ignorance), the cause that makes people fool around in Akusala Mūla, and the other is knowing the Four Noble Truths. The principle of awakening is based on consciousness and awareness. Awakening culture is a way to apply the principles to solve negative cultures: solving greed by a culture of giving, solving hate by a culture of kindness, and solving enchantment by a culture of wisdom.