By: Jaiden Vaca

Socially Engaged Buddhism

Final Paper
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of
the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases from being
shared -The Buddha.
This is my favorite quote of by Buddha. Who is the Buddha? What is
Buddhism? Buddha is translated into The awakened one. He hadnt always
been the awakened one. Growing up he was Prince Siddhartha Gautama,
who had hundreds of houses, treasures, and women flaunting themselves on
him almost everyday. He had a wife and she was about to have a kid. His
father always made sure that where ever they were going, the roads would
be picked up and no trash would be visible. Siddhartha decided to go out and
take a look at his kingdom without having people escort him. He went out
into the city four different times and of the four times of Siddhartha leaving
the Castle he saw a sick man, old man, dead man and the last day he saw a
poor homeless happy man or an Ascetic. He was devastated and left his life
as a prince, husband and father. He joined a group of ascetics and sat in a
forest starving for 6 years. A woman brought him rice and having not eaten
for 6 years and almost reaching death he ate the rice. Feeling betrayed the
Ascetics abandoned the Siddhartha in the forest. There he remained for
another few years. Finally gaining awakening when he realized you cant
become awakened through self mortification.

Asking if one is Buddhist is super broad. There are many types of

Buddhism and even then it varies depending on what country you are in.
Originally The Buddha created this religion so that people were able to
distinguish their suffering. He believed that every living being is suffering so
in order to be satisfied with ones life, you must follow and learn the Dharma
or Buddhas teachings in order to be free form suffering or Nirvana. He
taught The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, Dependent arising, The
Three Jewels, and much much more.
Today there are different forms of Buddhism. The only difference is that
these forms of Buddhism have been started and reinterpreted from different
people trying to spread peace socially, politically and personally within their
countries. These Buddhism movements are called Socially Engaged
Buddhism. In this paper I am going to talk about India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka,
Thailand and China. Who, why, and how these movements were started in
these countries and how they reinterpreted Buddhism.
India
In India a man by the name Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar changed the life
of many. Growing up he was an untouchable. In grade school his notebooks
couldnt be touched by his teachers and if he wanted a drink the water had
to be waterfall into his mouth in case there was any type of contact, He
would be beaten if he even stepped somewhere he was unwanted. He was
only the second untouchable to graduate from high school and had an
amazing opportunity to go to college. He went to Columbia University and

the University of London. While he attended both of these schools he

received a doctorates degree.
After he went to college he went back to India and since he was still an
untouchable he received severe beatings. He began to lose hope for the
caste system in India, so in 1935 he decided it was time for him to get out of
being Hindu and find a religion that was more suitable for him. By 1956
Ambedkar and his wife took the Three Refugees or Three Jewels which is
when one wants to become Buddhism they must take refugee to The
Buddha, The Dharma, and The sangha. The sangha mostly is just for monks.
Only 6 weeks after becoming Buddhist, Ambedkar passed away from
diabetes.
Before being converted to Buddhism, he wrote a book called The
Buddha and his Dhamma. Which is about the Dhamma and how it can be
applied to the untouchables in India. He believed that the Dhamma, The Four
Divine Abodes, and The eightfold path were the main teachings that should
be taught because of the virtues of these truths could help with poverty and
maltreatment. Ambedkar thought that The Four Noble Truths were more
selfish and people should focus on others rather then only the suffering of
themselves. He also denied Karma and felt as though people would blame
the untouchables rather than the caste system itself.
Although he was not able to physically help people, he was looked up
to and a great example. In five years after his death and converting to
Buddhism Ambedkar had opened the door to his untouchable friends and

over three million untouchables became Buddhist. Today there are still
problems with untouchables that are trying to be resolved by many Buddhist.
People who were inspired by Ambedkar started New Buddhism in India.
One organization is called Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha. Which works
together to transform their personal life along with the society. Members
called this the Dharma Revolution. There are three ways to forward this
type of Buddhism. The first being through public centers where people
gather to talk about Buddhist principles and the dharma based on their
society, ways to lift one and other up and for mindful meditation. Second is
through retreat centers which is supposed to be similar to the public centers
but more deepening. Third is done in residential communities, people gather
and learn to work together for the common good, have better spiritual
friendships and set up a number of social projects throughout the
community.
Just from this brief description of Ambedkar and his conversion to
Buddhism you can tell that he was really looked up to and wanted to make a
difference in India. It is amazing that this man was treated so horribly that
rather than acting out against the caste system he decided to make a
change so that people didnt have to live like he did as a child. It is too bad
he wasnt physically here to see the change that he created in India. I am
sure that he would be pleased with the positivity and change he had made in
the world and to his people.
Vietnam

Thich Nhat Hanh peace activist, poet, monk teacher. At the age of 17
Thich joined a Zen monastery in Hue, Vietnam. He learned about both
Theravada and Zen traditions which stressed on mindfulness through Koan
practice. Koan is used to discipline oneself and get one out of their body into
their mind or third eye.
Nhat Hanh studied at Saigon University and Princeton. When he went
back to Vietnam he stated the School of Youth for Social Service. This
school became one of the main organizations for the social engagement
during the war. Hanh worked for peace and healing which made him
Switzerland when he was asked to pick a side between North and South
Vietnam. He refused to take a side which seemed dangerous to the
government so they kicked him out of Vietnam.
Hanh decided to take refuge in Paris as he lead The Vietnamese Buddhist
Peace Delegation until the war was over.
Hanh after several years of being in France, he was anxious to get back
into his homeland. Still the Vietnamese government did not give Hanh a visa.
Hanh and many other socially engaged Buddhists wanted to negotiate with
the governments trying to put a stop to the war. Almost all of the Vietnamese
people agreed with Hanh but the government did not approve and the war
between the communist and anticommunism continued.
While the war was still going on and trying to put an end to the war
many Buddhist worked together for the well being of the Vietnamese people.
They cared for many orphans and helped those who needed medical

attention. They wanted peace for the benefit of all. Some people got so
serious about it they would randomly burn them selves or commit suicide in
the name of the war just to prove a point. Some would take apart in this act
because they couldnt handle their suffering or seeing the suffering of
everyone around them.
Once the war ended people were excited to have Buddhism lead their
country in healing and for the benefit of all. Except the new ruler of Vietnam
was threated by all the Buddhist and would punish those who would take
apart in the Buddhist activities. Some Buddhist rulers were even persecuted
or even sent to prison.
This awful act didnt stop Hanh, he continued to spread his light through
lectures, poems, and activities. He emphasized Inter being of life, Dependent
Arising, Mindfulness, The Eight Fold Path, and the Fourteen Precepts.
My favorite thing I read while reading about Thich Nhat Hanh is when it
says Like Ghosananda, stresses that the peace experienced in ones mind
and heart is to be lived with ones body. Being peace for others requires
inner healing and that peace given to others is also healing for them. I
think this shows a lot about him and how was really big into peace and being
compassionate to all. Regardless of the chaos going on in life. Thich Nhat
Hanh is a very peaceful man who is alive today still spreading his love
throughout the world.

Sri Lanka

There was a lot of production done in Sri Lanka. Many people had a
good amount of money and would buy a lot of products and would forget
about how much poverty was taking place in their country. It got to the point
where people would buy many things but not even think about the family
next door who had nothing to eat.
A man named A. T. Ariyaratne started a movement called Sarvodaya
Shramadana Movement. Ghandi was the first to use the term Sarvodaya
meaning the gift of sharing ones time and labor. This groups goes out to
find and live the Dharma by dividing time and labor for all people so that
there was no poverty and wealth. It would just be equal.
Sarvodayas believe in No-Self that way they are able to give all they
can to others. They believe in the Four Divine Abodes and the Four Noble
Truths. Buddha once said that people cannot learn the Dharma if they are
poor and hungry. Sarvodayas started a Village-renewal organization where
people are able to live properly by receiving food, good health, and care from
their people. Then people are properly fed and are able to learn about the
Dharma from people who are compassionate and care about eachothers well
being. They used the Four noble truths as a guide to solve problems. If there
was a confliction within the village they look at it as one would look at their
suffering. What is the issue? What is causing this issue? How can we solve
this issue? And what can we do right now to solve this issue and move
forward? People gather to solve problems and use this time to bond with one
another as though they are a family. They use very compassionate virtues.

They use this time to deepen their understanding with the Dharma and
meditation.
Another man Vishwa Niketan put together a peace center where
people of all races and sexes could come and learn the ways of Buddha. He
translated Buddhas teachings in a way so that many religions Christianity,
Hinduism, Buddhism could unite and learn about one another. He believed
that compassion and love and understanding one another would bring world
peace. There were thousands of these peace centers set up and they even
started teaching this in schools for even children. He put together many
peace walks and was given the Niwano Peace Prize in 1992.
Sri Lanka struggled like many countries with the huge contrast
between poverty and wealth. With the help of many Buddhist movements
there was a lot of sympathy put towards those who were super poor.
Sarvodayas believed that time and working for others is what will bring
peace to the world. A specific movement had the mindset to build a village
and feed and take care of those who are unable to feed and take care of
themselves. Vishwa Niketan started a group to unity every race and religion
to understand Buddhism and create a more peaceful world.
Thailand
Thailand, like the many countries above suffers with a lot of problems.
Theyve had issues with too many trees being cut down, poverty, some
families have even been driven to selling their daughters to sex trades for

money. A man by the name of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu set out to change the
lifes of his people.
When Bhikkhu was 10 years old he joined a Buddhist temple 600 miles
south of Bangkok his home. There is where he learned all of his reading, how
to write, collecting herbs from the forest and the guidelines and celebrations
of Buddhism. After a few years Bhikkhu decided he wanted to further his
studies of the dharma and become an ordained monk.
Once he was monk he set off to Bangkok and saw an abandoned temple. He
started to live there and he called it Suan Mokkh or The Garden of
Liberation. He was alone in silence for five years until three monks came
and joined him. Bhikkhu taught personal and social changes go hand in
hand. Letting go of oneself also allows one to let go of social problems.
Bhikkhu used the eightfold path and focused on the first one
Interdependence and dependent arising. He believed it was important for
one to be completely empty to see how the world actually is. Once you are
able to see how it is you are free and easily able to help society. He taught
that life should be dedicated to find a benefit for everyone, caring for the
poor, and having everyone work together to create peace.
There was a student of Bhikkhu, Sulak Sivaraksa wanted to create
something to help his society, he came up a lot of different movements but
the one that stuck out the most was called The Asian Cultural Forum on
Development. This was unlike any of the programs people had during that
time. This program was set out to help the Thai people by uniting the

financially as well as conservational. They encouraged social peace, created

schools for children who lived in poverty, they did health work, human rights
acts and tried to protect their forest. To do this he created an interpretation
of the Five Precepts. Sulak thought there should be guidelines for recreating
ones consciousness for social action which brings freedom intellectually and
emotionally. To do this he used the Four Grounds of Kindness (generosity,
kindly speech, useful works, and equality)
Thailand, the land of smiles may not have been known by the land of
smiles if it wasnt for Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Sulak Sivaraksa and many other
Thais that have set out to help their country made a big difference and
created a more peaceful country. Thailand has been restructured for social
and personal well being of others. By helping the poor, protecting their
forest, getting children an education when their families cant afford it being
taught that inner freedom can result in social freedom.
China
In china from 1951-1987 there were more than ten thousand men and
woman monastics were ordained. 65% of these ordinations were woman. In
1949 the Republic of China was established in Taiwan and many Chinese
Buddhist leaders went to Taiwan and spread Buddhism. It was known as the
Buddhism reawakening in Taiwan.
The most known woman is Cheng Yen. She was the founder of the
largest charitable organization in Taiwan. When Yen was 23 years old she left
her house to become a nun. She believed that it was important to live simply

and help out the poor. She also taught that the reason there was a lot of
suffering in the world was because people need to be reminded that we are
all one, and they need to all remember to love everything and all people.
In 1966 Yen founded Tzu Chi Compassion Relief association. She created this
group to help the poor. 14 years later she founded Tzu Chi Foundation and
they had eight missions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Charity work
Medical Care
Education
Cultural work
Bone marrow donor registry
Relief work
Environmental protection
Community volunteer

All of this beautiful work has been helped with by the four million members it
has today throughout the world.
Another large movement was held together by Grand master Hsing
Yun. Yun entered a Buddhist temple by the age of 12. Later in life he became
the 48 patriarch of the Lin-chi lineage of china. He created the Fo Guang
Shan Buddhist Order, created 120 new temples in Taiwan, called socially
engaged Buddhism Humanistic Buddhism to emphasize the core teachings
of Buddha, created free medical clinics to move around to different villages,
homes for the elderly, founded orphanages, provided food and clothing for
the poor, helped the wildlife and created many schools for people of all ages
to focus on the head, heart and hands. Yun thinks that it is important to
meet peoples spiritual and physical needs to build a peaceful strong world.
He taught Theraveda and Mahayana Buddhism to everyone. Yun believed

that it was important to respect all different people, and practice harmony
between all people. Because of Hsying Yun and Cheng Yen the people of
China and Taiwan has been blessed with love, safety and good health along
with many other things.
To conclude this essay, I would like to recap what we have learned.
Buddhism is a very harmonious religion that has been here for centuries.
Siddhartha Gautama once a young man gained awakening and is now known
as The Buddha. Today there are many different types of Buddhism and this
movement is called Socially Engaged Buddhism. Which is when someone
or a group of people create a group or movement that include some
Buddhism principles to address and help the socially, physical and spiritual
needs of the people in their country. In India, there was Bhimrao Ramji
Ambedkar who was able to change the life of many people by being a good
example. In Vietnam Thich Nhat Hanh showed people that they shouldnt be
afraid of the government if they are standing for what they believe in, he
showed true peace. A. T. Ariyaratne and Vishwa Niketan both helped the
people of Sri lanka. Sulak Sivaraksha and Buddhadasa Bhikkhu both lead the
thai people to a safer community. Last but not least Cheng Yen and Hysing
Yen helped the Chinese and Taiwanese people to be full of love. Looking back
on these stories from each country you can tell that each of these people are
full of love, compassion, harmony and peace. Without these different types
of Buddhism, I believe that Buddhism would not be where it is today. I hope
you were able to learn about these people, the wonders of Buddhism and

you are able to apply this love and compassion to yourself physically, socially
and mentally.

Cited sources
"How Did Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Die?" Quora. Web. 15 Dec. 2015. <https://www.quora.com/Howdid-Dr-B-R-Ambedkar-die>.
Mitchell, Donald W. "Modern Buddhism in Asia." Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist
Experience. New York: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.