Sungtaek Cho
\nState University of New York at Stony Brook<\/p>\n
The difficulty of developing a theoretical framework for Buddhism\u2019s engagement with contemporary social issues is rooted in the very nature of Buddhism as an ontological discourse aiming at individual salvation through inner transformation. It is my contention, however, that the concept of \u201cselflessness\u201d can become the basis of a Buddhist theory of social justice without endangering Buddhism\u2019s primary focus on individual salvation. In this article, I show how the key concept of selflessness can provide a viable ground for Buddhist social justice by comparing it with one of the most influential contemporary Western theories of social justice, that of the American philosopher John Rawls. Drawing on the bodhisattva<\/em> ideal and the Buddhist concepts of \u201csickness\u201d and \u201ccure,\u201d I then demonstrate how selflessness can serve as a link that allows Buddhists to be socially engaged even while pursuing the goal of individual salvation.<\/p>\n Read article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ISSN 1076\u20139005 Volume 7, 2000 Selflessness: Toward a Buddhist Vision of Social Justice Sungtaek Cho State University of New York at Stony Brook The difficulty of developing a theoretical framework for Buddhism\u2019s engagement with contemporary social issues is rooted in the very nature of Buddhism as an ontological discourse aiming at individual salvation through inner … Continue reading A Buddhist Vision of Social Justice<\/span>