I spent the weekend learning about B.R. Ambedkar. What a brilliant man and powerful advocate for social justice for the Untouchables of India, for women, for labour, and the “depressed classes” the world over. I read his treatise “The Annihilation of Caste” [which I downloaded from Verso Books for less than $3], with commentary by Arundhati… Read More Dalit Buddhist Revolution: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, We Salute You
“A migrant worker from Dublin, Dhammaloka was an autodidact, atheist and temperance campaigner who became known throughout colonial Asia as an implacable critic of Christian missionaries and a tireless transnational organizer of Asian Buddhists from Burma to Japan and from Singapore to Siam.” THE DHARMA BUM: The Untold Story of U Dhammaloka – The… Read More The Original Dharma Bum: Irishman U Dhammaloka
The following article by David Patt is a brilliant and hard-hitting analysis of Buddhism under global capitalism. From the Buddhist point of view, even to sustain the modest goal of happiness in this world, the way of life of consumer capitalism is a self-defeating path. Consuming objects to fulfill desire can never bring lasting happiness.… Read More Global Market Buddhism: When the Commodity We Consume is Buddhism Itself
“On the other hand, one can say that generally speaking, history bears out the proposition that political revolutions have always been preceded by social and religious revolutions. . . Even Indian history supports the same conclusion. The political revolution led by Chandragupta was preceded by the religious and social revolution of Buddha. The political revolution… Read More B. R. Ambedkar: The Annihilation of Caste
Proposal to Use Broadband Internet to Meet with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche Instead of Air Travel Problem: Air travel is costly, financially and environmentally Current and prospective members of the sangha cannot—or will not—travel by air to attend retreats where they could meet Rinpoche and benefit from speaking with him in person. Many members cannot afford… Read More Decarbonize Buddhism: Use Broadband Internet Instead of Flying
Noah Levine’s Engaged Buddhism: On Meeting War with Transformation; the war within and collective wars.
Your recently released Vow to Poetry includes essays and manifestos on poetics, Buddhism, and activism. In one of the articles, “Kali Yuga Poetics,” you proclaim: “Now more than ever the poem is a call to responsibility and action. To witness, grieve and alleviate suffering.” How might the experience of poetry lead us to activism? Poetry needs the… Read More Vow to Poetry
