An Introduction to Engaged Buddhism

✍ Scribed by Paul Fuller

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 249
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This textbook introduces and explores the ideas, practices and philosophy of the movement of engaged Buddhism. This new movement argues that suffering is not just caused by cravings of the mind, but also by political and social factors. Therefore, engaged Buddhists ‘engage’ with social issues to achieve liberation. Paul Fuller outlines the movement's origins and principles. This is followed by a comprehensive analysis of the central themes and issues of engaged Buddhism, offering new insights into the formation of modern Buddhism. The range of issues covered includes politics, gender, environmentalism, identity, blasphemy and violence. These are illustrated by case studies and examples from a range of locations where Buddhism is practised. Discussion points and suggested further reading, including internet resources, are provided at the end of each chapter, which will further enrich undergraduates' grasp of the topic.

✦ Table of Contents

Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Figures
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction : Engaged Buddhism
The origins of the term ‘engaged Buddhism’
Engaged Buddhist movements
Scholarly studies of engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism: Traditional or modern?
Models of engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism in practice
A note on material used in this book
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 2: The foundations of engaged Buddhism
Redefining the causes of ‘suffering’ (dukkha)
How engaged Buddhism adapts Buddhist ideas
Treading the sacred and profane paths: Lessening the tension between the ‘mundane’ and ‘supramundane’ realms of activity
Reimagining the causes of suffering
The adaptation of meditation and the precepts
Conclusion
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 3: Beyond belief : The danger of attachment to views in engaged Buddhism
Dandapani the philosopher
The engaged Buddhist focus on non-attachment to views and opinions
The fourteen precepts of engaged Buddhism
The Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism
A certain point of view: What are views and opinions?
A Buddhist call to social activism: The Pa¯t.ali-sutta
Buddhism with a small ‘b’
Conclusion: Views and engaged Buddhism
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 4: Dismantling metaphysics : Nirvaˉna, rebirth and interdependence
Modern Buddhism
Nirva¯na in this life
Engaged Buddhism and rebirth
Interdependence: A hybrid Buddhist doctrine
A scientific engaged Buddhism
Conclusion
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 5: Left, right and the middle way : Engaged Buddhism and politics
Max Weber and Buddhism
Buddhism and politics
How Buddhism interacts with politics
Buddhism has authority over political institutions
Buddhism shares power with political institutions: Mutual respect and protection
Persecution of Buddhism: Opposition and conflict with political authority
Buddhism withdraws from politics
‘Dictatorial Dhammic Socialism’
The ‘Two Wheels of the Dhamma’
The supreme Buddhist monarch
The tension between the ‘worldly’ and ‘supramundane’ realms of activity
Mindful politics
Conclusion
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 6: Eco-engaged Buddhism
The history of eco-engaged Buddhism
Themes in the study of eco-engaged Buddhism
Eco-engaged Buddhist ideas
Eco-engaged Buddhism and interdependence
Themes in the study of Buddhist environmentalism
The doctrine of Buddha-nature
Thai tree ordination
Tree ordination ceremonies
Eco-engaged Buddhism
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 7: Suffering, sexuality and gender
Buddhism and sexual desire
Female gender: Equality and discrimination
Gender and culture
Sakyadhita: Campaigning for gender equality
Homosexuality in Buddhist history: Karmic sexuality
Buddhism and (homo)sexuality: Liberal views
LGBTIAQ+ Buddhism: Philosophical themes of gender and sexuality
Suffering caused by heteronormativity in engaged Buddhism
Trans*-Buddhism
Types of gendered persons
Gender transformation in Buddhist history
LGBTIAQ+ mindful activism: Traditional karma and secular karma
LGBTIAQ+ Buddhists and loving-kindness
Buddhism and the #MeToo movement
Conclusion
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 8: Ethnocentric engaged Buddhism
Buddhist identity
Buddhist identity in modern Myanmar
Ethnocentric engaged Buddhism
The ideas of ethnocentric engaged Buddhism
Ethnocentric engaged Buddhism: A summary
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 9: Buddhism on the edge, Buddhists offended : Engaged Buddhism and blasphemy
Blasphemy and Buddhism?
Blasphemy, culture and identity
An analysis of ‘Blasphemy’ in the Paˉli canon
The power of images of the Buddha in Myanmar and the DJing Buddha
The idea that blasphemy has no place in Buddhism
Conclusion
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Chapter 10: Conclusion : All Buddhism is engaged? 
Discussion questions
Suggestions for further reading
Notes
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Bibliography
Index