An interactive afternoon session with
Dr. David R. Loy, the author of
"The Great Awakening - a Buddhist Social Theory"
Dr. Loy began his sharing by saying that the Lord Buddha was a great social revolutionary who advocated egalitarianism during His time in India. Regardless of caste or social status, once ordained and entered the Sangha community, one shed its identity and strive only for enlightenment from cycles of birth and death. To the people in India at that time, it was such a great social awakening.
Can that miracle of social awakening happen in today's society? It is indeed a deep thought-provoking question with no simple answer(s).
Dr. Loy shared with us how the three evil roots of greed, hatred and delusion are institutionalized, and gave examples of how big institutions and corporations are motivated by the three evil roots, and hence nurtured consumerism. Questions asked from the audience ranged from personal practice to collective effort to combat the unhealthy social influences.
To know more about this discussion topic, we encourage you to read the book "The Great Awakening - a Buddhist Social Theory". The book is available at Pustaka Nalanda in Serdang.
Other books authored by Dr. David Loy which are available at Pustaka are :
1. Money, Sex, War, Karma : Notes for a Buddhist Revolution [ Link ]
2. A Buddhist History of the West : Studies in Lack
3. The Dharma of Dragons and Daemons : Buddhist Themes in Modern Fantasy
Pustaka is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am - 6pm. For enquiries, please call us at 03-8938-1500.
Note : Click here for Dr. David Loy's 2012 dhammaduta schedule in Southeast Asia.
