Introduction

Towards a Buddhist Social Philosophy is a welcome addition to the growing literature of engaged Buddhism. The author has gone to the sources in the Pali Canon, and gleaned traces of sources of social concern in the earliest teachings of the Buddha. His ministry spanned the ancient Indian kingdoms like Kashi, Koshal and Magadh, and he was aware of the problems of life in society. How to live with others? Buddhist moral thought flowers in a non-solipsistic universal, where there are others, and we are afflicted with existential traits such as attachment, hatred and delusion. All disharmonies arise from these three so-called non-virtuous propensities, and by adopting a therapeutic method the Buddha sought to settle the issues of disunity, disharmony and discrimination.

Content and Themes

Through the ten chapters, the author has raised issues pertaining to contemporary concern, social and political, Marxism in Buddhist societies in Asia, neo-Buddhism of Ambedkar, etc. There is much that is novel and daring in the analysis of issues, and deserves to be perused by all serious readers, students and researchers interested in the role of the Buddhist world-view in modern India.