Network of Engaged Buddhists

What is Engaged Buddhism booklet free download

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:43:29 +0000

This wonderful little 20 page booklet has been updated and reprinted. Highly recommended introduction to socially engaged Buddhism written by NEB’s president Ken Jones. Thanks to Sally, Kara and Stig for the production.

Click on the link What is Engaged Buddhism? to download.

Occupy wall street article

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:21:05 +0000

American Dharma teacher/scholar David Loy’s piece on the Occupy movement – click here to download.

David Loy talks on Dharmaseed

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:24:12 +0000

David Loy’s excellent talks from the June 2011 retrreat Transforming Self, Transforming World at Gaia House were recorded and can be downloaded from http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/271/

A new learning directory

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:21:20 +0000

For access to an extensive website detailing teaching groups, academics, reading materials and other websites, have a look here at this extensive resource put together in conjunction with the Zen Peacemakers and here for a link to a newsletter, Bearing Witness which they have started to produce.

Engaged Buddhism survey results

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:40:26 +0000

An online survey ran between 9th and 24th November 2009 which aimed to find out more about UK Buddhists’ interest in and knowledge about Buddhist-inspired and Buddhist-led development work and social action in Asia; also to find out how Buddhists understood the relationship between personal and social transformation.

Ultimately, we wanted to find out if there was interest in a project the Karuna Trust www.karuna.org and the Clear Vision Trust www.clear-vision.org were planning to propose to the Department for International Development (DFID) which has funded Karuna before, for its work in India.

295 people contributed and the figures for each question are shown in the summary. 77% of the contributors were part of the FWBO because of the nature of the project and the organisations circulating the information. (Karuna and Clear Vision are FWBO projects.)

The overall summary is here.

The main comments have been divided into three parts for ease of reading and comparison.

When asked “Personal and social transformation are indivisible.” Do you agree?

116 said Yes. You can read their comments here.

45 said Sort of. You can read their comments here.

12 said No. You can read their comments here.

The outcome of this process is that a project application has been submitted to the Department for International Development for £273,186 by Karuna in partnership with Clear Vision. The plan is to focus on selected examples of socially-engaged Buddhist projects in the global South and demonstrating their relation to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The result of the application will be announced probably in March 2010.

The project will set up ten groups across the UK of Buddhists from various traditions including several within FWBO centres. Original study materials on will be created including video footage of projects in the global South. This will be accessed on an online learning hub. There will also be exchange and networking spaces such as inter-group meetings, retreats, conferences and a web hub.

We would like to thank all those who contributed to the survey. We were impressed with the responses, both in the thought given to them and the number completed in such a short time. The information will have value beyond this project as we think it’s the biggest survey ever completed on Engaged Buddhism and certainly the most current.

Joanna Macy

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:37:34 +0000

Joanna Macy is an American eco-philosopher and activist who developed “The Work that Reconnects”, a set of powerful tools and practices to support a shift in our hearts and minds, individually and collectively, to promote a life-affirming society.

Since the 1980’s many thousands of people around the world have been inspired and empowered by this experiential work which draws on Joanna Macy’s expertise in systems theory, deep ecology and the Dharma. Her PhD thesis explored the link between the Dharma teaching of dependent co-arising and systems theory. She is author of nine books including World as Lover, World as Self. She is a respected and inspirational voice in movements for peace, justice and ecology.

Joanna Macy’s informative website can be accessed here.

Learn more about the Work that Reconnects approach here

Triple Gem

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:30:57 +0000

Triple Gem is a co-operative based in the UK inviting global participation that provides Buddhist based analysis of social issues and contemporary events. It is collaborative and a not for profit venture independent of commercial and political organisations and is not controlled by any specific faith tradition.

They act as a source of ideas and news largely communicating through a blog based online forum. Triple Gem also facilitates seminars, voluntary initiatives and charitable enterprise. They invite partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals. Funding is through donations and a range of services.

More information can be found at this link http://triplegem.terapad.com/

Spiritual Care Programme UK

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:28:51 +0000

Drawing its inspiration from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, The Spiritual Care Programme explores the practical ways in which the compassion and wisdom of Buddhist teachings can benefit those facing illness or death through helping their families or caregivers.

Developed since 1993, SCP offers seminars on themes such as:

o Being present with death
o Who Cares for the Carers
o Opening the Heart to Grief and Loss

On invitation, they run training days for hospitals, hospices, colleges and conferences. For more information, click here.

More information can be found on their website http://spcare.org/uk/

The Order of Interbeing

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:22:38 +0000

The Order of Interbeing is a community of monastic and lay people who have committed to the fourteen mindfulness trainings and a distillation of the Bodhisattva teachings. It is a part of the Linji tradition emphasizing the Four Spirits: non-attachment from view, direct experimentation on the nature of interdependent origination through meditation, appropriateness and skilful means.

Based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, the life of the Order is nourished by understanding and compassion. They reject dogmatism in both looking and acting. There are many groups throughout the UK and a major retreat centre in Plum Village, France where Thich Nhat Hanh leads retreats, some of which include children.

More information can be found on their website www.orderofinterbeing.org

Breathworks

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:19:50 +0000

The Breathworks Project offers mindfulness-based pain management and strategies for living well to anyone wishing to live a richer life and feel a greater sense of initiative and confidence. Breathworks is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that helps people living with pain, long term illness or stress to manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

The pain management programme was developed primarily by Vidyamala Burch who has used the practice of mindfulness to manage her own chronic pain for over twenty years. In 2003 she teamed up with Gary Hennessey and Sona to form Breathworks. They have two main courses Living Well with Pain and Illness and Living Well with Stress and accredited trainers are now teaching the programme throughout the UK. For more information on the project click here. For information on mindfulness based projects in London, click here.

More information can be found on their website.