Was the Buddha an activist?
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Engaged Buddhism 
Oct 5, 2017 A talk given at the New York Buddhist Church in New York, sponsored by the Shantideva Meditation Center.
- Nagarjuna advocated for government policies based on Dharma principles
- Governing in way that benefits the whole society
- Developing government policies based on kindness and compassion
- Desirable qualities of leaders and their advisors
- Nagarjuna is addressing leaders and us as citizens
- Question and answers
- What about giving government aid to those who do not work?
- Balancing government intervention
- Should there be religious advisors for government leaders?
- Maintaining compassion in the face of overwhelming worldly suffering
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.
