Buddhism 4C - Socially Engaged Buddhism

Question 1

What is socially engaged Buddhism?

Answer 1

Buddhists who apply the insights from meditation practice ad Dharma teachings to situations of social, political and environmental

Question 2

Socially engaged Buddhists are active in helping in what movements?

Answer 2

Global peace, HIV, homelessness, disasters

Question 3

What reasons do Buddhists have for engaging in issues/

Answer 3

Eightfold Path- Right livelihood, Four Noble Truths- Identifying and work to overcome suffering, Teaching of loving kindness, patience etc

Question 4

What reasons are there for Buddhists not to engage?

Answer 4

Karma decides justice so we do not need to get involved, Issues affecting a person may be a result of poor karma, Can act as a distraction from focusing on path

Question 5

Who was Master Taixu?

Answer 5

A buddhist activist

Question 6

Engaged Buddhism has grown in popularity in the West due to whom?

Answer 6

Thich Nhat Hanh

Question 7

During the Vietnam war, what did Buddhists get involved in?

Answer 7

Helping victims of war, advocating peace, rebuilding war damaged communities

Question 8

During the war Thich and his sangha saw their response to the suffering they saw around them, as what?

Answer 8

Part of their meditation and mindfulness practice

Question 9

Thich Nhat Hanh outlined precepts on Engaged Buddhism, which explained his philosophy, how many precepts were there?

Answer 9

14

Question 10

Name three of the precepts

Answer 10

1. Truth is found in life not concepts, 2.Do not close your eyes to suffering, 3.Do not harbour anger or hatred

Question 11

What is war considered?

Answer 11

Akusala

Question 12

What is akusala?

Answer 12

Unskilful means

Question 13

Historically some buddhists have been involved in war, true or false?

Answer 13

True

Question 14

in WWII how many Japanese soldiers were Buddhist?

Answer 14

Half