'Lo Paxamopaxamo wrote:I am wondering, is activism very common among Buddhists? For example: civil rights activism, helping to relieve poverty (not having enough money to live, as opposed to living the simple life), slowing down corporations who seem to be becoming too powerful for the world's good, and working towards environmental protection.
Thank you,
I read that Thich Nat Hanh and some of his monks once took part in an anti vietnam war peace march. From memory; TNH wrote that he was disturbed by the .. errr .. non peacefullness of the peace marchers - all rushing along shouting angrily, that kinda stuff ...
Story went that he and his monks began slow mindfull walking in silence amongst the demonstrators and that as people noticed they calmed down and took to slow and peacefull walking too.
Opinions may vary but I think if there is a moral to the story it is that is not wrong for buddhists to be activists so long as they are mindfull that they should only be active in a very buddhist way.