Why the Dalai Lama is a Socialist: Buddhism and the Compassionate Society - Softcover

Gibbs, Terry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1783606444 ISBN 13: 9781783606443

Publisher: Zed Books, 2017

Synopsis

“I am a socialist,” declared the Dalai Lama to the surprise of many recently. Though Buddhists and socialists both might be perplexed at the suggestion that their approaches to life share fundamental principles, important figures in Buddhism have increasingly been framing contemporary social and economic problems in distinctly socialist terms.  In this innovative and provocative work, Terry Gibbs argues that the shared values expressed in each tradition could provide useful signposts for creating a truly humane, compassionate, and free society.

Why the Dalai Lama Is a Socialist is the first book to accessibly link Buddhism to socialist thought and social justice. As interest in Buddhism, particularly in the West, continues to increase dramatically and as the Dalai Lama remains one of the most high-profile religious figures in the world, this book provides a timely comparison of the complementary ideals of the Buddhist and socialist traditions.  Gibbs is hopeful about our potential to create a more just society through collective effort, and Why the Dalai Lama Is a Socialist is grounded in his fundamental belief that everyday human activity makes a difference.
 

About this title

About the Author:

Terry Gibbs is associate professor of political science at Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada.
 

Review:

“The Dalai Lama has long voiced a need for Buddhists to be involved in societal and political change as well as inner transformation, in line with Gibbs’s hypothesis linking Buddha Dhamma and Socialism. Gibbs’s work advocates moving towards a more compassionate world, and starts to explore a vision for a future without suffering.”

(Sulak Sivaraksa, founder of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists)

“This book could not have been published at a more appropriate time. Immersed as we are in an economy of greed, it offers a vital message of hope and compassionate action for justice and equality.”
  (Vandana Shiva, activist and author of Earth Democracy)

About this edition

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1783606444
• ISBN 13: 9781783606443
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272