Apramāda

Buddhist perspectives on society and culture

Apramāda

Buddhist perspectives on
society and culture

An exploration of the principles of an authentic social justice movement, beginning with the need for the exercise of reason and an agreement between narrative and fact.
Vidyaruchi
20 September 2023
Posted in: Buddhism, Politics

Latest Articles

mushroom cloud
Advayacitta begins to explore the history of climate change politics. He investigates the cultural context within which preoccupation with global warming developed. It was a context notable for its intense fear of disasters.
Advayacitta
Posted in: Politics, Science
Buddhism and war
When a tyrannous regime invades a peaceful country, what is the most ethical course of action for the rulers of that country? Ratnaguna reflects on the moral dilemma such a situation would present to Buddhists.
Ratnaguna
Posted in: Buddhism, Culture
Homeless
Chapter 13 of The Destructivists by William Collins, in which he explains why 'Wokeism' has become dominant in all centres of power and authority.
Rick Bradford
Posted in: Politics
B.R._Ambedkar
Dr Ambedkar was a unique figure in world history. Buddhists seeking to promote 'Social Justice' causes have been known to cite him as a precedent. But is this justified? Vidyaruchi investigates.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Buddhism, Politics

Politics

un assembley
Chapter 10 of The Destructivists by William Collins, in which he explains why the 'elites' - the privileged, the established, the influential, the powerful - have most to gain from the imposed Moral Infantilism of society.
Rick Bradford
Posted in: Politics
Wolf2
Calls for 'Social Justice' seem to be getting shriller, and the demands made in its name stranger. Vidyaruchi explains what the terms have come to mean, where the ideas underlying their current use originated, and why they are so dangerous.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Politics
moralinfant
Chapter 7 of The Destructivists by William Collins, in which he explains how supposed moral rectitude functions as a form of power.
Rick Bradford
Posted in: Politics
defund
Many people, including some Buddhists, now believe that black lives are 'systematically and intentionally targeted for demise' by the police. In the second instalment of 'An Immoral Panic', Subhamati examines the evidence.
Subhamati[1]
Posted in: Politics

Psychology

Ratnaguna interviews Advayacitta about how recognising and transcending various patterns from the past is an important aspect of psychological and spiritual development.
Advayacitta
Posted in: Buddhism, Psychology
selwa
Ratnaguna explains what a spiritual community is and is not, and makes a case for spiritual communities changing the world for the better.
Ratnaguna
Posted in: Psychology
Head in Hands
Advayacitta, a clinical psychologist, explores how political ideologies can undermine psychological functioning, thereby harming individuals and whole societies.
Advayacitta
Posted in: Politics, Psychology
Conformity
Cass Sunstein argues that groups, and society, need dissenters to prevent them from making bad decisions
Ratnaguna
Posted in: Psychology

Culture

Chintamani has been creating Buddhist images for Western Buddhists for 50 years. Ratnaguna asks him about his approach to this and, looking at seven of his paintings and sculptures, how his work has evolved.
Ratnaguna
Posted in: Buddhism, Culture
Road to somewhere
In this very stimulating interview Thomas Hamilton-Shaw talks about two books by David Goodhart: The Road to Somewhere and Head Hand Heart. Tom is a friend of David and was his research assistant for the second book.
Hamilton-Shaw
Posted in: Culture
Ratnaguna asks guitarist Nick Gauntlett about his love of progressive rock music, and what it has to do with his Dharma practice. We also hear some of the music he has recorded, including a song he wrote as part of a concept album on the Buddha.
Nick
Posted in: Culture
Maitreyabandhu is an award-winning poet, and in this illuminating interview he tells Ratnaguna about his latest volume of poetry, After Cézanne.
Maitreyabandhu
Posted in: Culture

Philosophy

Popper-3
Vidyaruchi considers the limitations of Popper's political thought, and argues that the liberalism that he espoused needs a framework of higher values such as is found in Buddhism.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Philosophy, Politics
In this interview - the first in the new series Books Worth Reading - Ratnaguna interviews Jñanavaca on The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist, and finds out why he thinks it is a book well worth reading.
Jnanavaca
Posted in: Philosophy
The Lovers Whirlwind
An account of Popper's thinking on politics, including his critique of 'historicism', his demolition of Marxism, and his own theory of how to bring about social change.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Philosophy
Popper
Karl Popper is arguably one of the foremost philosophers of the 20th century. Here, Vidyaruchi considers his theory of scientific method, and attempts to formulate a Buddhist response.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Philosophy

science

sun over trees
In this article Advayacitta describes the process of how he came to alter his opinion about climate change.
Advayacitta
Posted in: Science
Einstein
In this second article on Buddhism and physics, Advayacitta explores an important parallel between Relativity Theory and the Buddhist doctrine of śunyata.
Advayacitta
Posted in: Science
A Burning House?
In ‘The Burning House’, a Buddhist shares his Dharma insights, promising practical resources for those moved to respond to a perceived climate emergency. This review explores the author’s depiction of the problem, and his solutions.
Achara
Posted in: Science
In this interview Silavadin discusses the materialist view of evolution and, following the philosopher Thomas Nagel, proposes a different paradigm: that there is a cosmic predisposition to the formation of life, consciousness and value.
Posted in: Science

Buddhism

Woman holds two fingers or Victory Sign
A message from the editorial board on the occasion of Apramada's second anniversary, explaining something of what motivated us to start a new online publication, and what we hope to achieve.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Buddhism
angry annoyed woman, getting mad asking question you talking to
Ratnaguna discusses the rise of offence-taking in our culture and argues that, just because someone gives offence, doesn't mean you have to take it.
Ratnaguna
Posted in: Buddhism, Politics
happy-birthday-g3ce996eb1_1920
An extract from Nagapriya's book The Promise of a Sacred World, in which he argues that cultivating a sense of gratitude for all we've received is transformative.
nagapriya
Posted in: Buddhism
middle way
The Middle Path is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Buddhism. In a particularly brilliant passage from A Survey of Buddhism, Sangharakshita identifies three 'modalities' through which it operates. Here, Vidyaruchi explores these deep ideas.
Vidyaruchi
Posted in: Buddhism

Articles

The powerful have most to gain from the imposed Moral Infantilism of society
What is the root of our suffering and how can it be quenched? What did the Buddha discover?
Advayacitta begins to explore climate change politics, looking at the cultural context in which fears about climate developed
Ratnaguna argues that if someone gives offence you don't have to take it
The importance of Buddhists transcending political ideologies.
A Buddhist response to Karl Popper’s theory of scientific method.
Ratnaguna asks Chintamini about his approach to creating Buddhist images for Western Buddhists
Part 1 of Achara's series on wise policy making.
An investigation into truth, delusion, justice and race in the USA.
This is the first in a new series we're calling Thus Have I Heard: Brief Essays on Buddhism.
Part 3 of Achara's series on wise policy making.
Apramāda has been accused of trying to 'delegitimize and derail racial justice work'.
Ratnaguna marks Apramda’s first year by discussing why the objective truth is crucial for the health of society
Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class
Is unconscious bias training free from bias?
Part 2 of Achara's series on wise policy making.
Vidyaruchi argues Popper's political thought needs a framework of higher values such as is found in Buddhism.
Political ideologies can undermine psychological functioning.
Ratnaguna and Advayacitta discuss aspects of Buddhism and psychological therapy - their similarities and differences.
What is ‘racial equality’? What should Buddhists make of it?
Advayacitta describes the process of how he came to alter his opinion about climate change.
Maitreyabandhu's latest volume of poetry, After Cézanne.
In this article Ratnaguna makes a case for spiritual communities changing the world for the better.
Advayacitta begins to explore interesting parallels between two core Buddhist principles, and modern physics.
Part 2 of the series Breaking Free of Tribalism and Becoming an Individual.
Are black lives 'systematically and intentionally targeted for demise' by the police?
Chapter 13 of The Destructivists by William Collins
The parallel between Relativity Theory and śunyata.
Devamitra's account of his treatment of prostate cancer. Inspiring, and thought-provoking.
If you are a Buddhist, are you bound to be a Remainer?
In this second article based on his celebrated 'Eros and Beauty' talks, Subhuti examines the nature of aesthetic experience.
The Buddha was aware of the dangers of engaging in debates, and he had some observations about how to conduct discussions.
A conversation on the series 'A Good Heart is not enough'.
This review explores ‘The Burning House’, a response to a perceived climate emergency.
How can we really know anything, and how often are our opinions based on a lack of real knowledge?
Subhamati takes a closer look at Stephen Batchelor's Tricycle article on Brexit.
Ratnaguna interviews Advayacitta about the nature of consciousness, and how this relates to the question of rebirth.
Vidyaruchi examines Popper's thinking on politics, his critique of 'historicism' and his demolition of Marxism.
The first article in a series on Sangharakshita's magnum opus A Survey of Buddhism.
Aryajit interviews Ratnaguna on Walking with the Wind by the Civil Rights activist John Lewis
Advayacitta interviewed about the importance and meaning of music in general, and in particular of the chanting of mantras.
In this short but powerful piece Nagapriya argues that gratitude is transformative.
Another short Dharma essay, Gotama, Mole, and the Wild Wood.
Vidyaruchi explores what 'Social Justice' has come to mean.
The second part of Vidyaruchi's series on A Survey of Buddhism.
Whole societies can split into mutually unintelligible ‘tribes’.
When a tyrannous regime invades a peaceful country, what is the most ethical course of action?
Silavadin discusses the materialist view of evolution and, following the philosopher Thomas Nagel.
Ratnaguna looks at instances from ancient texts of the Buddha debating, and draws out lessons that we can learn from him.
Moral rectitude functions as a form of power.
Cass Sunstein argues that groups, and society, need dissenters to prevent them from making bad decisions.
In this article - the first of a three part series - Ratnaguna examines the nature of tribe.
Thomas Hamilton-Shaw talks about two books: The Road to Somewhere and Head Hand Head Hand Heart.
Sravaniya says why he thinks classical music is important.
Jñanavaca on The Master and His Emissary.
Advayacitta explores how decision making in health care has been increasingly taken away from clinicians and their patients
Subhuti explores the pursuit of beauty as a spiritual path. Part 1 of 2 parts.
This article is intended for those who are curious about Buddhism but as yet knows little about it.

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