Description
Description
This is a Pariyatti audiobook of four essays from the book Facing the Future: Four Essays on the Social Relevance of Buddhism by Bhikkhu Bodhi, narrated by Shelina Hetherington.
- A Buddhist Social Ethic for the New Century
- A Buddhist Approach to Economic and Social Development
- The Changing Face of Buddhism
- Sangha at the Crossroads
Excerpt:
If we use the Buddha s teachings as a lens to examine the corporate economic system and its offshoot, the consumerist culture, we will see that it is ultimately detrimental to the well-being of both its masters and servants alike. Drawing upon the tools of Buddhist analysis, let us briefly sketch the inner dynamics of this system. We see in the first instance that such a social order is founded upon ignorance or delusion (avijj , moha), namely, the supposition that material wealth and consumption are the criteria of the good life. According to the Buddhist texts, when ignorance infiltrates our cognitive systems it issues in a series of distortions (vipall sa) which infect our perception (saññ ), thinking (citta), and views (di hi). The Buddha mentions four such distortions: the notions that the impermanent is permanent, that the painful (or suffering) is pleasant, that the insubstantial is a self, and that the unbeautiful is beautiful. At the most basic level we perceive things by way of these distortions; when these distorted perceptions are taken up for reflection, we start thinking in terms of them; and finally, under the combined influence of distorted perception and thought, we adopt views that is, beliefs, doctrines, and ideologies that affirm the mistaken notions of permanence, pleasure, selfhood, and beauty.
A Buddhist Social Ethic for the New Century
A Buddhist Approach to Economic and Social Development
The Changing Face of Buddhism
Sangha at the Crossroads
Also available in print and in the Collected Wheels Publications Volume 28.
Free eBook version available from the BPS website.
Check out our complete audiobook catalog.
We are grateful to the volunteers who offered their time and skills creating this product so that we can offer it freely. If you wish to help us record more audiobooks, please email us at volunteer@pariyatti.org.
VIPASSANA PRODUCTS
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. More information about Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka is available at www.dhamma.org.
The tag Vipassana identifies products that are directly related to this tradition and differentiates them from other Theravada resources available on our site. While the main emphasis in Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka is on actual practice, this product may provide inspiration and guidance to a Vipassana meditator.
We also carry titles from the Theravada tradition, as we feel that by exploring the wider world of the Theravada texts, which include the Buddha’s discourses, commentaries, and scholarly articles and treatises, meditators have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Dhamma and thereby enrich their meditation practice. This kind of intellectual exploration also helps a meditator to gain an understanding of the evolution and historical context of their meditation tradition. This understanding in turn deepens their practice and understanding of the Dhamma.
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