Sun, 26 Jun
|Croydon Buddhist Centre
Buddhist Voices of Inspiration for Engaging with the World
In-person at Croydon Buddhist Centre . All welcome. 10.30am - 4:30pm. We The day will be lead by Vaddhaka who teaches and helps run the Triratna Buddhist Centre in Tallinn, Estonia. He will lead a discussion on our socio-economic world, and how Buddhists can engage with its many problems.
Time & Location
26 Jun 2022, 10:30 – 16:30 BST
Croydon Buddhist Centre, 98 High St, Croydon CR0 1ND, UK
Details
Buddhist Voices of Inspiration for Engaging with the World
A day retreat with Vaddhaka
Sunday 26 th June, 10.30am to 16.30pm
Slavoj Zizek is a well-known and controversial Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic who
believes that western style Buddhism is the ‘perfect ideological supplement’ to capitalism. He
argues that when faced with the injustice, pain and suffering in the world today, the western
Buddhist takes cover in their meditation practice to avoid the full impact of this reality.
Is this true?
Vaddhaka, who spent the first twenty-five years of his adult life active in left-wing politics
and trade unionism, and is the author of “The Buddha on Wall Street: What’s wrong with
capitalism and what we can do about it”, disagrees, and writes this:
“During my twenty-seven years of involvement in Buddhism I have been inspired by many
different Buddhist voices, especially those active in ‘socially engaged Buddhism’.
The first, Sangharakshita, was the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order, of which I am a
member, and of the Triratna Buddhist Community.
The second, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, was a member of the first government of
independent India and in the 1950s instigated a mass conversion movement of Dalits to
Buddhism which continues today.
The third, David Loy, is an American Buddhist scholar and practitioner in the Zen tradition,
and very active in the environmental movement.
The fourth, Thich Naht Hanh, came to fame through his work supporting the Vietnamese
‘boat people’.
And the fifth, Bhikkhu Bodhi, is one of the most well-known translators of the Pali Canon of
the Buddha’s teachings.
During this day retreat I will lead discussion on these five individuals, each of whom has
given me something particular to consider about our socio-economic world, and how
Buddhists can engage with its many problems.
We're priceless! All our classes offering Buddhist teaching are by donation, because we believe that the Buddha's teachings should be freely given. We recommend a donation of £ per week, but we welcome you however much you can afford to give.