In recent years, civil uprisings broke out subsequently in the Buddhist countries of Myanmar, Thailand and Tibet. These events can usually be analyzed in terms of western political concepts such as political obligation and civil disobedience. However, are these concepts to be found in the Buddhist sutras or doctrines? If yes, how are they to be verified or justified? This paper intends to find equivalent expressions or idioms of these two concepts in Early Buddhist teachings and texts by asking the following questions: First, what could be the Buddha's attitude toward "political obligation" and the right to resist? Second, what kinds of political authorities should be resisted by the citizens? And, finally, what should be done if exercising the right to resist shall lead to slaughters and bloodshed? Are there any ways or methods to be consulted for such cases?
