Buddhist Peacework: Creating Cultures of Peace
Buddhist Peacework: Creating Cultures of Peace can be ordered directly from Wisdom Publications by phone at 800-272-4050 or online at www.wisdompubs.org.
Buddhist Peacework: Creating Cultures of Peace probes the link between inner peace and global harmony and examines the shift within Buddhist communities from isolated monasticism to an engaged activism for peace. The chapters provide eighteen “reports from the field” on grassroots Buddhist peace activities, and the authors—all of whom are Buddhist leaders and/or scholar-activists—represent a wide range of traditions within Buddhism, including Theravadan, East Asian, Tibetan and Mongolian, and Western.
With its thoughtful exploration of each community’s approach to peacemaking, Buddhist Peacework is a dynamic resource for inter-Buddhist dialogue and for university courses dealing with religion and peace, Buddhist ethics, engaged Buddhism, and peace studies.
“Buddhists have suffered immeasurably from the brutality and injustice of the modern world; from this crucible has emerged a remarkable generation of Buddhist leadership intently focused on peace building. This volume makes available—for the first time in one place—first-person statements of the ideas and work of such eminent Buddhist leaders as H.H. the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Maha Ghosananda, A.T. Ariyaratne, Daisaku Ikeda, Shih Cheng-yen, Sulak Sivaraksa, and Robert Aitken; a cornucopia of visionary and creative social engagement.”
—Sallie B. King, James Madison University
“This book is a welcome and highly readable addition to the growing literature on religiously inspired efforts toward world peace. It enlarges and deepens the discussion by asking not only the obvious questions about responsibility and engagement but also the seldom asked and uncomfortable questions about the role of the community and of the individual.”
—Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School
David W. Chappell was a scholar of Chinese Buddhism and graduate chair of the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaii. He inititiated a series of Buddhist-Christian conferences in 1980 and was founding editor of the academic journal Buddhist-Christian Studies from 1980–95. He became the founding director of the Buddhist Studies Program at the University of Hawaii in 1987. In 1988, Professor Chappell was a cofounder of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, and served as its President from 1993–95. He died in 2004.
Preface
Virginia Straus
Foreword
Joan Halifax
Introduction
David W. Chappell
I. BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
Chapter 1: The Dhamma Revolution in India: Peacemaking Begins with the Eradication of the Caste System
Dhammachari Lokamitra
Chapter 2: Buddhism and a Culture of Peace
Sulak Sivaraksa
Chapter 3: A New Millennium of Goodness, Beauty, and Truth
Shih Cheng-Yen
Chapter 4: Buddhist Women in the Global Community: Women as Peacemakers
Karma Lekshe Tsomo
Chapter 5: The Oppression of Buddhists in Mongolia
Lama Bataa Mishigish
Chapter 6: Sarvodaya Shramadana’s Approach to Peacbuilding
A.T. Ariyaratne
II. REBUILDING MORAL CULTURES
Chapter 7: Keeping Peace with Nature
Stephanie Kaza
Chapter 8: The Net of Vows
Robert Aitken
Chapter 9: The Activities of the Korean Buddhist Chontae Order toward World Peace
Jeon Chong-Yoon
Chapter 10: Shambhala: “Enlightened Warriorship” for Peace
Judith Simmer-Brown
Chapter 11: My Way of Pilgrimage to Peace
Kosan Sunim
Chapter 12: The SGI’s Peace Movement
Daisaku Ikeda
Buddhist Leaders and Peacework Activities
III. INNER PEACE, OUTER KINDNESS
Chapter 13: The Human Family
Maha Ghosananda
Chapter 14: Ahimsa: The Path of Harmlessness
Thich Nhat Hanh
Chapter 15: The Happiness of Peace
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Chapter 16: A Pure Land on Earth
Shih Sheng-Yen
Chapter 17: The UNESCO Declaration: A Tibetan Buddhist Perspective
José Ignacio Cabezón
Chapter 18: Dialogue on Religion and Peace
Tenzin Gyatso, The XIVTH Dalai Lama
Conclusion: Buddhist Peace Principles
David W. Chappell
Description
Buddhist Peacework: Creating Cultures of Peace probes the link between inner peace and global harmony and examines the shift within Buddhist communities from isolated monasticism to an engaged activism for peace. The chapters provide eighteen “reports from the field” on grassroots Buddhist peace activities, and the authors—all of whom are Buddhist leaders and/or scholar-activists—represent a wide range of traditions within Buddhism, including Theravadan, East Asian, Tibetan and Mongolian, and Western.
With its thoughtful exploration of each community’s approach to peacemaking, Buddhist Peacework is a dynamic resource for inter-Buddhist dialogue and for university courses dealing with religion and peace, Buddhist ethics, engaged Buddhism, and peace studies.
Advance Praise
“Buddhists have suffered immeasurably from the brutality and injustice of the modern world; from this crucible has emerged a remarkable generation of Buddhist leadership intently focused on peace building. This volume makes available—for the first time in one place—first-person statements of the ideas and work of such eminent Buddhist leaders as H.H. the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Maha Ghosananda, A.T. Ariyaratne, Daisaku Ikeda, Shih Cheng-yen, Sulak Sivaraksa, and Robert Aitken; a cornucopia of visionary and creative social engagement.”
—Sallie B. King, James Madison University
“This book is a welcome and highly readable addition to the growing literature on religiously inspired efforts toward world peace. It enlarges and deepens the discussion by asking not only the obvious questions about responsibility and engagement but also the seldom asked and uncomfortable questions about the role of the community and of the individual.”
—Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School
Author(s)
David W. Chappell was a scholar of Chinese Buddhism and graduate chair of the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaii. He inititiated a series of Buddhist-Christian conferences in 1980 and was founding editor of the academic journal Buddhist-Christian Studies from 1980–95. He became the founding director of the Buddhist Studies Program at the University of Hawaii in 1987. In 1988, Professor Chappell was a cofounder of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, and served as its President from 1993–95. He died in 2004.
Table of Contents
Preface
Virginia Straus
Foreword
Joan Halifax
Introduction
David W. Chappell
I. BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
Chapter 1: The Dhamma Revolution in India: Peacemaking Begins with the Eradication of the Caste System
Dhammachari Lokamitra
Chapter 2: Buddhism and a Culture of Peace
Sulak Sivaraksa
Chapter 3: A New Millennium of Goodness, Beauty, and Truth
Shih Cheng-Yen
Chapter 4: Buddhist Women in the Global Community: Women as Peacemakers
Karma Lekshe Tsomo
Chapter 5: The Oppression of Buddhists in Mongolia
Lama Bataa Mishigish
Chapter 6: Sarvodaya Shramadana’s Approach to Peacbuilding
A.T. Ariyaratne
II. REBUILDING MORAL CULTURES
Chapter 7: Keeping Peace with Nature
Stephanie Kaza
Chapter 8: The Net of Vows
Robert Aitken
Chapter 9: The Activities of the Korean Buddhist Chontae Order toward World Peace
Jeon Chong-Yoon
Chapter 10: Shambhala: “Enlightened Warriorship” for Peace
Judith Simmer-Brown
Chapter 11: My Way of Pilgrimage to Peace
Kosan Sunim
Chapter 12: The SGI’s Peace Movement
Daisaku Ikeda
Buddhist Leaders and Peacework Activities
III. INNER PEACE, OUTER KINDNESS
Chapter 13: The Human Family
Maha Ghosananda
Chapter 14: Ahimsa: The Path of Harmlessness
Thich Nhat Hanh
Chapter 15: The Happiness of Peace
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Chapter 16: A Pure Land on Earth
Shih Sheng-Yen
Chapter 17: The UNESCO Declaration: A Tibetan Buddhist Perspective
José Ignacio Cabezón
Chapter 18: Dialogue on Religion and Peace
Tenzin Gyatso, The XIVTH Dalai Lama
Conclusion: Buddhist Peace Principles
David W. Chappell