In a world increasingly marked by division and violence, Buddhism offers not only a vision of peace, but a deep psychological and ethical analysis of what causes conflict in the first place. Rather than attributing conflict solely to external forces or political ideologies, Buddhist thought turns inward — to the human mind and its attachments.
According to Buddhism, the ultimate roots of conflict lie in the three unwholesome mental states: greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha). These are the poisons that drive harmful behavior, both individually and collectively. When people are overcome by these mental states, they begin to crave power, wealth, or security at the expense of others. They may rationalize cruelty, justify aggression, or turn small disputes into large-scale wars .
A particularly insightful teaching from the Buddha (Majjhima Nikāya I.86–87) traces how attachment to sense-pleasures leads to craving, which escalates into disputes — between individuals, communities, and even rulers. This desire to possess and control material things — land, resources, wealth — is a common fuel for conflict .
But Buddhism also explores delusion at a subtler level — especially the belief in a fixed, permanent self. The idea of “I” and “mine” gives rise to tribalism: “my people,” “my religion,” “my country.” When this identity feels threatened, people react as though they themselves are under attack. The result is group ego, where nations, ethnicities, and ideologies defend an illusion of permanence, often through violence .
Moreover, Buddhism warns that corrupt leadership can infect entire societies. A king who behaves unjustly influences ministers, then citizens, and finally the moral fabric of a nation begins to unravel. The Anguttara Nikāya explains how bad conduct at the top spreads downward, creating widespread disharmony .
From the Buddhist point of view, conflict is not inevitable — it is conditioned. And because it is conditioned, it can also be transformed.
The Buddhist response to conflict is not to deny anger or avoid responsibility, but to see clearly, to reflect deeply, and to act with compassion. The antidotes to the three poisons are generosity, lovingkindness, and wisdom. Cultivating these in the mind weakens the seeds of conflict and makes room for understanding, reconciliation, and peace.
In a world of escalating division, Buddhism reminds us: “Hatred never ends through hatred. By love alone does it end. This is an eternal truth” (Dhammapada 5).