What is your understanding of ‘engaged Buddhism’ Is ‘engaged Buddhism’ an authentic and true expression of Buddhism or is it a distortion of traditional Buddhist principles and values? Finally, can ‘engaged Buddhism’ tread a balanced or middle-path between contemplation and social action?
According to Buddhist sacred texts of the Tripitaka and the Mahayana, Buddhism has long upheld values of compassion, salvation, truth, egolessness and purity as a good way of behaviour and the true way of living. Through various continual meditational practices, followers of Buddhism believe to reach a point of nirvana, that once mastered provides for an ultimate and consistent freedom from pain and suffering.
Within the Dharma and ‘The Fourfold Noble Truth’, Buddhism wholly accepts that the world is full of suffering and offers guidance on divine consciousness to eradicate human suffering to ‘self’ and ‘others’. Traditionally Buddhism does not advocate social activism by way of militant action for example to bring about change in human suffering and injustice, political or otherwise; but rather, encourage individuals to sever the ties of worldly passions and desires that are believed to be the sole cause of suffering. The aim here is that once advancement to Enlightment has been reached, one then has the insight to preach the Dharma to all people around the world. As Robert A. F. Thurman asserts in his article, Guidelines for Buddhist Social Activism, (p. 1) “Self transformation is the prerequisite of social transformation”.
Breaking away from ‘worldly passions’ and desires can only be known through Enlightment: and Enlightment can only be achieved through the obedience of The Fourfold Nobel Truths. The Fourfold No ...