Jesse Hirsh host of 3D Dialogue interviews Prof. Mavis Fenn, Dept. of Religious Studies, St. Paul's College, Waterloo University, regarding Engaged Buddhism.
Prof. Fenn seems to consider Engaged Buddhism to be a "Western" expression of Buddhism arising from the interaction during colonialism.
I hesitate to post this because they don't really say all that much of interest during the 7 minutes that they use, but I suppose I will anyway.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
3D Dialogue: Engaged Buddhism
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2 comments:
Ajahn Brahm once said that "engaged Buddhists are only engaging with suffering." He said it during a vassa talk to the monastic community and his tone was not at all sympathetic. I always found the term "engaged Buddhist" to be kind of pejorative, as it implies that Buddhists who meditate and don't focus on changing the world outside as somehow not doing anything worthy.
Yea, I tend to agree with you. For monks almost any form of "engaged Buddhism" doesn't make sense. After all if you want to deal with the details of society like that then why be a monk?
Laypeople are always "engaged" with suffering and everything else to some extent. I do think many of the people calling themselves "engaged buddhists" are probably paying too much attention to the behavior of others so they don't have to look at themselves as closely. It's much easier to focus on the faults of others rather than your own faults.
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