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
Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings; Radiating kindness over the entire world: Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from… Read More Cherish All Beings
From the pain come the dream From the dream come the vision From the vision come the people From the people come the power From this power come the change —Peter Gabriel There is a new vision being born out of this pain, a vision that replaces perfectionism with liberation, a vision that bridges individual… Read More ‘Sangha Retreats’ for Rich People
