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The New Buddhism
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Product Description
An illuminating and positive book that will inspire those seeking spiritual regeneration. The New Buddhism states clearly and boldly that Buddhism should be and originally was about engagement with the world and about the practice of truth and compassion. It shows that for genuine spiritual renewal Buddhism must be about more than contemplation and personal growth. Buddhism, David Brazier explains, is not an absolute truth. It is 'a raft to carry one across the stream, not something to burden one when one reaches the other shore. Get across that stream as quickly as possible, was [the Buddha's] message, there's work to do on the other side...' Brazier restores the idea of the Buddha as a spiritual leader with a vision of a peaceful revolution and takes a completely new look at many aspects of Buddhism, reinterpreting them in terms of the Buddha's social aims. Western and Eastern visions of enlightenment are compared and the mystique of lineage is questioned. Above all, the author draws a line between 'extinction' Buddhism and 'liberation' Buddhism - the former aiming to free the individual from this world, and the latter aiming to perfect this world by freeing it from the large scale forces of greed and delusion.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #646280 in Books
- Published on: 2001-05-24
- Original language: English
- Binding: Paperback
- 286 pages
Editorial Reviews
Review
"'comprehensive and readable and should appeal to anyone broadly interested in Buddhism.' Helen Sieroda, Interbeing.; 'an excellent reference book for basic Buddhist teachings...I would recommend a careful study of this to therapists and Buddhist practitioners alike' Ros Oliver, Self and Society"
About the Author
David Brazier is a practising psychotherapist and Zen Buddhist and the director of an independent Buddhist training programme in the north of England. His previous books include Zen Therapy, The Feeling Buddha, and Beyond Carl Rogers: Towards a Psychotherapy for the 21st Century.
Customer Reviews
A Challenging Book
This is a first class book for all Buddhists who feel the need to relate the Buddhist way of life to the world in which we live over and above the particular, individual insights the Way offers to each of us (which, of course is valuable). The range Brazier covers shows how Buddhism is a family of ideas and practices with big differences, in fact contradictions, between the members of the family. Because of Brazier's open acknowledgement and treatment of these differences, I think, The New Buddhism would also be of interest to non-Buddhists who, having experienced first-hand those differences, are tempted to caste the whole Buddhist way into the fire as 'sophistry and illusion' (no pun intended).
Each Buddhist tradition, historically and culturally, has been dependant on the conditions of that time and place. Brazier raises the question of what Buddhism could mean (he may say 'ought' to mean, I don't know) in our time and place. Of course, there is no way anyone can know what the Buddha actually said, he never wrote anything himself and what comes down to us is interpretation, exposition and, no doubt, sheer fabrication. But it is this challenge to place Buddhism in our time and place which makes this book controversial.
The world may be suffering and illusion and yet compassion and wisdom promotes the need to address the conditions and consequences that obtain. This is the strength of the book. Brazier achieves this by questioning Buddhist beliefs and looking for a compassionate way through. The problem is that Buddhists are going to have to think about the issues raised and not respond intolerantly to what is a very real and important challenge to their accepted beliefs and practices.
However, despite his easy style of writing, Brazier's uncritical stress to get back to some sort of original Buddhism is one of the things which I think fails the book along with a few bits of silliness (utopian, in this case) which tends to sneak its way into most Buddhist books - but so what? Any way of life carries with it a responsibility - as has been so clearly highlighted recently by the scandalous behaviour of Zen exposed in 'Zen at War' by Brian Victoria - and Brazier is entitled to dream a bit ... as are we all
A Buddhist message for everyone!
Yes, it proposes a "western" Buddhism, concerned about social problems. Isn't that what we need right now? Mulling over ancient sutras, spending years in solitary retreat, repeating a thousand mantras ...... how does that help make the world a better place? This is the 21st. century. Buddhism needs to enter the new millenium. This book might well be the first step.
A Stiring Vision
David Brazier (Dharmavidya) has a powerful vision for the future - the creation of a Pure Land here in this Saha world. The New Buddhism is an inspiration critique in which Brazier draws a picture of The Buddha as a spiritual leader engaged with the world, the leader of a social and spiritual revolution. The essence of Buddhism is not only an awakening to dependent origination, and the nature of self and so on - but acknowledgement and engagement in a world of suffering.
To live a truly noble life, one not only has to face the suffering in ones own life, and of ones own karma but to face a more global and social suffering - it is through engagement with this that the clearest awakenings can occur - and it is through engaging with this in a way, underpinned by the vision of a compassionate future, that one can help to bring about that future.
Brazier's manifesto is a brilliant piece of work. As others have written he deconstructs some existing ideas within Buddhism, and draws a more energetic and exciting image of the movement that surrounded Buddha Shakyamuni.
Brazier is unapologetic in his approach, there is a political and social aspect to this work, as there was to the work of Buddha - the spiritual and social cannot be separated. Brazier's exposition is clear and exciting and essential reading for anyone wishing to engage their practice on a deeper level, and to begin to make a difference to the world in which we live.
