Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Engaged Buddhism and political involvement

Engaged Buddhism and political involvement

Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on Approaching the Buddhist Path, the first book in “The Library of Wisdom and Compassion” series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.

  • How to develop the compassion, wisdom, and skills to benefit others
  • Adopting four kinds of activities to alleviate our own or others difficulties
  • Differentiating between buddhist practices and secular methods
  • Examining how our biases influence our views or actions
  • Balancing spiritual practice, right livelihood, and benefiting the broader society
  • Factors to consider when spiritual practitioners get involved in politics

61 Approaching the Buddhist Path: Engaged Buddhism and Political Involvement (download)

Contemplation points

  1. What makes it a Buddhist practice?
  2. What is a good motivation for learning secular topics?
  3. In what ways could we Buddhist practitioners serve society on a secular as well as spiritual level?
Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.