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 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; the mystique of lineage is questioned; the positive social record of Buddhism is examined and Buddhist practice - ethics, mind-training, the teacher-disciple relationship, refuge and renunciation - is reassessed. 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.

This book is a manifesto for a more active, compassionate and socially engaged Buddhism - one grounded in the Buddha's original intention.

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Product details

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Robinson (24 May 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1841193321
ISBN-13: 978-1841193328
Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.8 x 19.7 cm
Average Customer Review: 6 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 555,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2260 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Philosophy
- #3380 in Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Philosophy > Non-Western
- #6238 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies

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Product description

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"

Book Description

An introduction to a different way of life

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Jnanabhasa

... we should be engaged in making the world a better place. His vision of what a pure land ...

8 November 2017

Verified Purchase

Firstly I must say that I did find this book very inspiring in many ways and I as a practicing Buddhist I also firmly belief that we should be engaged in making the world a better place. His vision of what a pure land would look like almost totally accords with how I would like human society to be. Its just that I find his version of Buddhism a little thin - there's little here that an atheist materialist progressive humanist would be that uncomfortable with. There are strong echoes both of existentialism and stoicism. There is little sense of the transcendental or of investigation into the nature of mind; its all radical social engagement. Insight into no self here seems little more than a decision not to act selfishly rather than any radical cognitive shift. Perhaps I do him an injustice - I would have to know more about how his sangha actually practices and how he actually meditates. I am grateful to him for for illuminating the whole Critical Buddhism controversy which I had heard about but not gone into. I will certainly read 'Pruning The Bodhi Tree' now. I loved his reverence for Amitabha. Don't get me wrong I loved this book in many ways and respect the stance he is taking. I think it's a valid interpretation and could be a real force for good in the world. It's just I feel there's a whole other dimension to the Dharma. Perhaps I'm too much of a mystic.

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Tempestas

A Buddhist message for everyone!

2 February 2007

Verified Purchase

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.

4 people found this helpful

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A customer

A Challenging Book

14 January 2002

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

12 people found this helpful

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A. Sidwell

new insight on old issues

4 September 2002

David Brazier gives the clearest review I have ever read on various interpretations of Buddhism that have arisen in the course of its long history of tolerance and adaptibility. Alone for his discussions on the interpretations of 'Enlightenment' available to us, this work is a stunner - changing one's view of what meditation is for, and therefor, what one's life may be for.
His passion for an actively compassionate way of life is soundly based in his brief history and exposition of Buddha's teaching - I would add that Buddha's own example of leaving a luxury life for one of search and then of active teaching, supports Brazier's interpretation securely.
The book is a little disturbed by Brazier's long descriptions of what this might lead to right now, but no matter - this is an important philosophical and practical guide to Buddhism as it can be practised today, everywhere.

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Most recent customer reviews

Kaspalita Thompson

A Stiring Vision

David Brazier (Dharmavidya) has a powerful vision for the future - the creation of a Pure Land here in this Saha world.Read more

Published on 1 March 2007

A customer

Not what it says on the tin! A personal manifesto.

The title (which is surely designed to entice purchasers as it is precisely not what the book is about) misleads...Read more

Published on 15 August 2001

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