Page 11 - Applied Buddhism
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Foreword   Divided into four sections, the first part of the book asks us

 by Benny Liow  to explore various aspects of modern living in terms of our rights
        to water, vegetarianism, tobacco consumption among monastics,
        issues in bio-technology, why the need to meditate, and lessons by
 The term  Applied  Buddhism means that  we can  practice   Steve Jobs from a Buddhist perspective.
 Buddhism in our everyday lives, in the midst of our family, jobs,
 community, and society. It also means that the Buddha’s teachings   In Part 2, the author delves into inter-religious issues which are
 can be applied in every circumstance in order to bring clarity and   common in a plural society like Malaysia. The author discusses the
 understanding, and solutions to problems in our world. When we   importance of diversity, peace, global ethics and universal values,
 apply what the Buddha taught, we will realise that it offers concrete   and the threat of global evangelism.
 ways to relieve suffering and bring peace and happiness in every
 situation in our lives and in our society.
            In the section on politics, the author discusses if monastics
        should participate in politics, the ethics of political engagement,
 Even  though the  Buddha  attained  enlightenment  more  than   and the rise of secularism in the modern world.
 2600 years ago, the teachings he left  behind  remain  relevant  to
 people in the modern age. If we were to ask what is the essence   The  book concludes with  an interesting  discussion of the
 of the Buddha’s teaching, it would be as follows: to understand   challenges of Buddhism in the modern age and how they affect
 suffering, and how to overcome it so that we can experience real   contemporary Buddhist movements in Malaysia and overseas. The
 happiness. The Buddha adopted a very practical approach to create   author also discusses the relevance of lay Buddhism, significance
 a happier and more peaceful world. He did not want his followers   of a global organisation like the World Fellowship of Buddhists,
 to merely believe what he said, but to put them into practice, i.e to   socially  engaged  Buddhism  and  the  success stories  of the  late
 apply his teachings in their daily lives. He consistently mentioned   Venerable K Sri Dhammananda, the icon of Malaysian Buddhism
 that if we truly apply his teachings, we will find true peace and   for many decades until his demise in 2006.
 happiness.

              The articles in this book bear testimony  that  the ultimate
 In this excellent  book,  Ang Choo Hong, a learned  and   purpose of the Buddha’s teachings is to serve and benefit humanity
 experienced lay Buddhist leader has compiled a total of 19 articles   so that mankind can truly find peace and happiness when they apply
 he wrote as well as lectures he delivered at local and international   the Buddha Dharma in their daily lives. I  am confident that the
 conferences on various aspects of Applied Buddhism into a handy   readers, after digesting all the chapters in this book, will find their
 volume. As such, the selections in this book all have great bearing   lives happier and more enriching.
 on how we can apply the teachings of the Buddha in every aspect
 of our lives.




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