Engaged Buddhism

Engaged Buddhism contradicts the misconception of Buddhism as an ascetic, otherworldly and detatched form of spirituality. The Middle Way as taught by the Buddha directly opposes asceticism. Dependent co-arising (interbeing), and the Bodhisattva Vow, dissolves the bifurcation of this and other.

In the current news we hear talk of “secular religions,” particularly “secular Islam” and “secular Christianity." In this light, engaged Buddhism can be seen as the response of Buddhism to the demands of the contemporary issues of the secular world.

Engaged Buddhism arose from individual practitioners reacting to troubling issues with modern society, such as: famine, environmental disasters (both natural and human inspired), and the continuance of genocide which is all but ignored by most Western Governments and the demands by Lay Westerners that Buddhism be come responsive to their native expectations such as the equal rights of women and the need for social activism.

The religion founded by the Historical Buddha almost completely vanished in India, which was its country of origin, partly because of its over-concentration in monasteries, without ties to the lay community, making it an easy target for crusaders. Today's adoption of Buddhadharma in the West is primarily lay, rather than monastic, making such isolation less likely.

The term “Engaged Buddhism” was actually popularized in Vietnam. Perhaps it reflects Vietnam's French heritage, with the French existentialists who used terms like “engaged literature,” which was literature responding to social and political commitments, as opposed to literature in the form of art.

As the teachings of the Buddha are followed in the West, the majority of practitioners lead lives in society, and look to ways in which they can apply the teachings to the world around them.

Engaged Buddhism need not be interpreted in terms of liberal or conservative agendas. Western Buddhists can apply their practice by volunteering in the local community at hospitals, service centers and prisons; or through activist work for such issues as human rights issues, environmental concerns, the world peace agenda or working for the rights of women.