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Socially Engaged Buddhism: Faith‐inspired drivers of social and political change

Lindberg Falk, Monica LU (2013) Faith in Civil Society : Religious Actors as Drivers of Change
Abstract
The global socially engaged Buddhist movement emphasis Buddhism’s engagement with society. It is a socially and politically active form of Buddhism that came into being in the twentieth century. Engaged Buddhism is a non-centralized movement that emerged in response to multiple crises in modern Asia. It has been described as a modern form of Buddhism, influenced by; modern, social, economic, psychological, and political forms of analysis of Western origin. Engaged Buddhism is, in a certain sense, a result of the great tension modern Buddhists have felt between theoretical and idealized concepts and the way these concepts have been used. Buddhism has been portrayed as otherworldly and unconcerned with the welfare of the people. That is an... (More)
The global socially engaged Buddhist movement emphasis Buddhism’s engagement with society. It is a socially and politically active form of Buddhism that came into being in the twentieth century. Engaged Buddhism is a non-centralized movement that emerged in response to multiple crises in modern Asia. It has been described as a modern form of Buddhism, influenced by; modern, social, economic, psychological, and political forms of analysis of Western origin. Engaged Buddhism is, in a certain sense, a result of the great tension modern Buddhists have felt between theoretical and idealized concepts and the way these concepts have been used. Buddhism has been portrayed as otherworldly and unconcerned with the welfare of the people. That is an one-sided account that does not acknowledge that the Buddhist institutions at all times have been important actors in society. Buddhism has always been engaged and monks and nuns have been involved with the lay people as teachers, doctors, counsellors, advisers etc. However, the monks’ and the nuns’ roles have shifted over the centuries and in different contexts. Governments have taken over many of the social activities that were traditionally the responsibility of temples and monks. These include education, health care, social work, community support and development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
in press
subject
host publication
Outlook on Civil Society
editor
Moksnes, Heidi and Melin, Mia
publisher
Uppsala Centre for Sustainable Development
conference name
Faith in Civil Society : Religious Actors as Drivers of Change
conference location
Uppsala, Sweden
conference dates
2012-04-24 - 2012-04-25
ISSN
1403-1264
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
More information via http://www.csduppsala.uu.se/
id
e720fe1e-7770-4535-befd-e196beafd80d (old id 3438133)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:06:15
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:12:17
@inproceedings{e720fe1e-7770-4535-befd-e196beafd80d,
  abstract     = {{The global socially engaged Buddhist movement emphasis Buddhism’s engagement with society. It is a socially and politically active form of Buddhism that came into being in the twentieth century. Engaged Buddhism is a non-centralized movement that emerged in response to multiple crises in modern Asia. It has been described as a modern form of Buddhism, influenced by; modern, social, economic, psychological, and political forms of analysis of Western origin. Engaged Buddhism is, in a certain sense, a result of the great tension modern Buddhists have felt between theoretical and idealized concepts and the way these concepts have been used. Buddhism has been portrayed as otherworldly and unconcerned with the welfare of the people. That is an one-sided account that does not acknowledge that the Buddhist institutions at all times have been important actors in society. Buddhism has always been engaged and monks and nuns have been involved with the lay people as teachers, doctors, counsellors, advisers etc. However, the monks’ and the nuns’ roles have shifted over the centuries and in different contexts. Governments have taken over many of the social activities that were traditionally the responsibility of temples and monks. These include education, health care, social work, community support and development.}},
  author       = {{Lindberg Falk, Monica}},
  booktitle    = {{Outlook on Civil Society}},
  editor       = {{Moksnes, Heidi and Melin, Mia}},
  issn         = {{1403-1264}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Uppsala Centre for Sustainable Development}},
  title        = {{Socially Engaged Buddhism: Faith‐inspired drivers of social and political change}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}