Socially Engaged Buddhism: Faith‐inspired drivers of social and political change

The global socially engaged Buddhist movement emphasis Buddhism’s engagement with society. It is a socially and politically active form of Buddhism that came into being in the twentieth century. Engaged Buddhism is a non-centralized movement that emerged in response to multiple crises in modern Asia. It has been described as a modern form of Buddhism, influenced by; modern, social, economic, psychological, and political forms of analysis of Western origin. Engaged Buddhism is, in a certain sense, a result of the great tension modern Buddhists have felt between theoretical and idealized concepts and the way these concepts have been used. Buddhism has been portrayed as otherworldly and unconcerned with the welfare of the people. That is an one-sided account that does not acknowledge that the Buddhist institutions at all times have been important actors in society. Buddhism has always been engaged and monks and nuns have been involved with the lay people as teachers, doctors, counsellors, advisers etc. However, the monks’ and the nuns’ roles have shifted over the centuries and in different contexts. Governments have taken over many of the social activities that were traditionally the responsibility of temples and monks. These include education, health care, social work, community support and development.