E-grāmata: Buddhism in the Public Sphere: Reorienting Global Interdependence

Globally deepening interdependence has been meaning greater inequality and manifestly less-sustainable practices across a wide range of sectors, notes Hershock (Asian studies, East-West Center, Honolulu), and the predominant means for critically engaging this interdependence seem not to be up to the task. From a Buddhist perspective, he clarifies the values, intentions, and practices that animate the prevailing ways of thinking about and responding to the emergent realities, and reflect on ways to change them. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The core teachings and practices of Buddhism are systematically directed toward developing keen and caring insight into the relational or interdependent nature of all things. Hershock applies Buddhist thought to reflect on the challenges to public good, created by emerging social, economic, and political realities associated with increasingly complex global interdependence.

In eight chapters, the key arenas for public policy are addressed: the environment, health, media, trade and development, the interplay of politics and religion, international relations, terror and security, and education. Each chapter explains how a specific issue area has come to be shaped by complex interdependence and offers specific insights into directing the growing interdependence toward greater equity, sustainability, and freedom. Thereby, a sustained meditation on the meaning and means of realizing public good is put forward, which results in a solid Buddhist conception of diversity. Hershock argues that concepts of Karma and emptiness are relevant across the full spectrum of policy domains and that Buddhist concepts become increasingly forceful as concerns shift from the local to the global.

A remarkable book on this fascinating religion, Buddhism in the Public Sphere will be of interest to scholars and students in Buddhist studies and Asian religion in general.