Engaged Buddhism and Activism

• What is the term used to describe the practice that combines Buddhism with social activism?

  Engaged Buddhism
• What are the origins and aims of Engaged Buddhism?


  Engaged Buddhism aims to apply Buddhist principles to social and ecological issues.
• Who is a significant figure associated with Engaged Buddhism?

  Thich Nhat Hanh
• What are the Fourteen Precepts associated with Thich Nhat Hanh?


  The Fourteen Precepts are guidelines for mindful living and social engagement.
• Why might a Buddhist consider social activism important?

  Social activism is seen as a way to express compassion and address suffering in society.
• What are some areas where Buddhist activism is evident?


  Environmental awareness, opposition to oppression, and war and peace.
• What did the 14th Dalai Lama argue about compassion and action?

  He argued that compassion must lead to action to be meaningful.
• How does Engaged Buddhism differ from traditional Buddhism?

  Engaged Buddhism emphasizes social involvement rather than solely seeking personal enlightenment.
• What criticism do Engaged Buddhists have towards non-engaged Buddhists?


  They argue that non-engaged Buddhists risk becoming narcissistic due to consumer culture.
• What did Kenneth Kraft argue about inner transformation?


  He argued that inner transformation must also address social and political realities.
• What does Ken Jones suggest about the term 'socially engaged Buddhism'?


  He suggests it clarifies the engagement aspect of Buddhism with social problems.
• What does Thich Nhat Hanh mean by "inter-are"?


  It means that everything is interconnected and affects one another.
• How does Maitrisara view the effectiveness of Engaged Buddhism?

  Maitrisara believes it reduces negative mental states that lead to poor decisions.
• What is a criticism of Buddhism's traditional view on suffering?


  It can lead to an unhelpful acceptance of social and structural causes of suffering.
• What does Donald Swearer say about the Buddhist principle of interdependence?

  It undermines anthropocentrism by emphasizing relationality among entities.
• How does interconnectedness relate to ecological systems theory?

  It aligns with the idea that environmental health results from interrelated forces.
• What does Indra’s Net illustrate in Buddhism?


  It illustrates the interrelatedness of all things in the universe.
• How do shopping habits relate to Buddhist principles of interconnectedness?

  They show how consumer choices impact global economies and the environment.
• What do some argue about the purpose of Buddhism in relation to ecological concerns?


  They argue that reinterpreting Buddhism as ecological distorts its original purpose.
• What is the Bodhisattva ideal in Buddhism?


  It teaches that the supreme purpose is compassion for all beings, not just personal salvation.
• What do early Buddhist texts say about violent behavior?


  They speak against the mental states that lead to violence.
• What is a significant theme in the Pali Canon regarding war?

  Nonviolence is emphasized, and killing is viewed as the height of immorality.
• How do early texts view the role of the sangha in military matters?


  The sangha is discouraged from involvement in military affairs.
• What does the Gamani Samyuttam sutta suggest about soldiers and rebirth?


  It suggests that soldiers who kill with the intention to kill will have a negative rebirth.
• What does the Kosala Samyutta indicate about defensive warfare?

  It allows for defensive warfare under certain circumstances.
• What are the five criteria prescribed by Theravada commentaries for an act to be karmically negative?


  1. Presence of a living being, 2. Knowledge that the being is living, 3. Intention to kill, 4. Action of killing, 5. Death occurring.
• What did Dr. Babashaheb Ambedkar claim about Ahimsa in Buddhism?

  He claimed that Ahimsa is a principle but not a strict rule, allowing for freedom to act.