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

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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
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

Politics

uko-post-artwork-large-79174
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
Posted in: Buddhism, Politics
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
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

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
Anywheres
As unenlightened human beings, we all have predispositions – patterns of desire, perception and feeling – that often lead us astray and generate suffering. Whole societies can split into mutually unintelligible ‘tribes’, blind to one another’s pain or anger.
Vaddhaka2
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

Culture

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
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
the destructivits
Chapter 2 of The Destructivists by William Collins, in which he ascribes the divisions in our society to a form of moral corruption which must be countered in moral terms.
Rick Bradford
Posted in: Culture, Politics
Prajnanandi read ‘a good heart is not enough’, and wrote to the author to say, 'I absolutely agree with the principles you outlined, but when I applied the principles, I came to the opposite conclusions. Can we talk?’
Achara
Posted in: Culture, Politics

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

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
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

Buddhism

uko-post-artwork-large-79174
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
Posted in: Buddhism, Politics
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
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
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

Articles

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

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