The New Buddhism

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

There is a new book coming out by David Brazier. For more information see

the publishers' website www.constablerobinson.com

The following is from their leaflet: In 'The New Buddhism', David Brazier

makes the case for a Buddhism of social action and engagement, contrary to

the commonly-held view of Buddhism as a spiritual movement of passive

acceptance.

Kind regards,

John Willemsens.

....................

Advayavada Buddhism Infocenter - Amsterdam

visit: www.euronet.nl/~advaya/sitemap.htm

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "John Willemsens" <advaya@e...> wrote:

> Dear friends,

> There is a new book coming out by David Brazier. For more

information see

> the publishers' website www.constablerobinson.com

> The following is from their leaflet: In 'The New Buddhism',

David Brazier

> makes the case for a Buddhism of social action and

engagement, contrary to

> the commonly-held view of Buddhism as a spiritual movement

of passive

> acceptance.

> Kind regards,

> John Willemsens.

> ...................

> Advayavada Buddhism Infocenter - Amsterdam

> visit: www.euronet.nl/~advaya/sitemap.htm

 

Grace be with you, John!

 

I am very interested in your posting and will definitely check out

the book. Thanks for posting it for us.

 

While one can perhaps understand how this misconception of

Buddhism came to be, it always has seemed to me that the

great heart of Buddha has always been about living the

Eight-Fold Path in such a way as to be a Light unto the world.

Speaking for myself, I've never seen the Buddha's way as a

selfish self-enlightenment, without compassion for all sentient

beings and their suffering. So while Buddhism -- or Christianity,

for that matter -- can't be reduced to social action or a "social

gospel" -- the message is so radical and revolutionary and

liberating that it can't *help* but be world-changing. So, I'm glad

to hear of such books!

 

By the way, as far as "social action" and freedom from the self, I

think J. Krishnamurti (yes, I know he's not a Buddhist, as such,

and yet he is) has probably done more good thinking about this

subject than anyone of the past century. With Krishnamurti,

liberation from the self releases creative energy to really change

the world for the better, and the more we know there is no doer

doing it, the more powerful our effects will be.

 

God bless,

Steve

[Guest guest]

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your kind words.

John Willemsens.

....................

Advayavada Buddhism Infocenter - Amsterdam

visit: www.euronet.nl/~advaya/sitemap.htm

 

<<

Grace be with you, John!

 

I am very interested in your posting and will definitely check out

the book. Thanks for posting it for us.

 

While one can perhaps understand how this misconception of

Buddhism came to be, it always has seemed to me that the

great heart of Buddha has always been about living the

Eight-Fold Path in such a way as to be a Light unto the world.

Speaking for myself, I've never seen the Buddha's way as a

selfish self-enlightenment, without compassion for all sentient

beings and their suffering. So while Buddhism -- or Christianity,

for that matter -- can't be reduced to social action or a "social

gospel" -- the message is so radical and revolutionary and

liberating that it can't *help* but be world-changing. So, I'm glad

to hear of such books!

 

By the way, as far as "social action" and freedom from the self, I

think J. Krishnamurti (yes, I know he's not a Buddhist, as such,

and yet he is) has probably done more good thinking about this

subject than anyone of the past century. With Krishnamurti,

liberation from the self releases creative energy to really change

the world for the better, and the more we know there is no doer

doing it, the more powerful our effects will be.

 

God bless,

Steve

>>