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Engaged Buddhism - Coggle Diagram
Engaged Buddhism
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Engaged Buddhism
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- Engaged Buddhism is a movement within Buddhism - it seeks to apply Buddhist teachings in a more activist and social manner
- Engaged Buddhism describes the rise of political activism and social service by Buddhist communities and organisations in Asia and the West since the 1950s
- The term was coined by Thich Nhat Hanh in 1963 when Vietnam was ravaged by war
- He founded the 'Order of Interbeing' to promote social causes
- While maintaining the Buddhist emphasis on inward spiritual growth, engaged Buddhism also aims to reduce social suffering and oppression through political and social reform
Aims of Engaged Buddhism
- Engaged Buddhists share the belief that mindful social action is consistent with traditional notions of Buddhist practice and its goal of the universal relief of suffering
- They have supported campaigns for conflict resolution, human rights, economic development, national self-determination and environmental protection
- Engaged Buddhists have insisted that Buddhist mindfulness, morality and social action be integrated into all facets of daily life
- The International Network of Engaged Buddhists describes engaged Buddhism as active engagement with the world of suffering - inspired by the work of bodhisattvas
- INEB is based on the Buddha's message to his monks to come out of meditative seclusion and go forth into the world
Origins of Engaged Buddhism
- The canonical and extracanonical writings of Buddhist Asia include teachings on service to others and social policies that promote general welfare
- The Jataka tales illustrate the virtues of generosity and compassion through fables in which the future Buddha risks or sacrifices his life to save others from harm
- The monastic sangha appears to embody certain progressive values associated with modernity in the West - equality of access to men and women of all classes and castes, and an organisation based on personal attainment rather than birth or wealth
- The career of the bodhisattva is based on a vow to save all sentient beings from suffering and calamity