The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory [Paperback]

David Loy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

The most essential insight that Buddhism offers is that all our individual suffering arises from three and only three sources, known in Buddhism as the three poisons: greed, ill-will, and delusion. In The Great Awakening, scholar and Zen teacher David Loy examines how these three poisons, embodied in society's institutions, lie at the root of all social maladies as well. The teachings of Buddhism present a way that the individual can counteract these to alleviate personal suffering, and Loy boldly examines how these teachings can be applied to institutions and even whole cultures for the alleviation of suffering on a collective level. This book will help both Buddhists and non-Buddhists to realize the social importance of Buddhist teachings, while providing a theoretical framework for socially engaged members of society to apply their spiritual principles to collective social issues. The Great Awakening shows how Buddhism can help our postmodern world develop liberative possibilities otherwise obscured by the anti-religious bias of so much contemporary social theory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this daring work, Loy exemplifies the rise of socially engaged Buddhism and this new vehicle of spiritual practice." -- Professor Christopher S. Queen, Harvard University, editor of Engaged Buddhism in the West

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861713664
• ISBN-13: 978-0861713660
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Approach to Socially Complicated Enigmas, February 28, 2004

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory (Paperback)

David Loy in this magnificent text opens up to us by facing three crucial issues facing us in our modern times, the three poisons the Buddha called hindrances to practice. Ignorance, anger, and greed. These are the source of all suffering not just for individuals, but entire societies and even companies. This book addresses such issues with Loy's brilliant social theory on Buddhism.

Loy takes aim at big business in this work, showing his skepticism in saying that corporations and the globalization of world trade are certainly not realities which seem to be motivated by love and compassion (as politicians will have us believe); rather, they are motivated by greed. And it's a regrettable truth, that companies are out for two things: more profit, and more power. Of course, these companies are not the only problem. Because where you have a profiteering business, you find consumers. These consumers, especially those in Western culture, are in many ways like the hungry ghosts of Buddhism. Buddhism, as do most religious traditions, faces the reality of greed head on. It emphasizes the need to control it.

Who's accountable for this pressure on growth? Consumerism has taken over with a life completely of it's own. Many people are probably either oblivious to it or don't really want to face this subtle but all too apparent truth. Everyone is to blame, and therefore it must be tackled individually. The only way this can be accomplished is by eradicating our own innate tendency to support it all. The lack of responsibility, in short, embodies what is both happening today and why things are not changing. There are not many individuals standing up to take action. The world is basically in the hands of, in the current era, big business. This is scarecly a new insight for you and I. But the point of all of this, Loy stresses, is that somewhere for a breaking away of such practices to occur, we must have individuals willing to make sacrifices in order to accomplish such a task. That calling is for you and I. This book is so very engaging, won't you buy it?

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important book!, December 15, 2003

By 

Steven A. Smith (Gaffney, SC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory (Paperback)

This book is not just for Buddhists. Anyone who wishes to see clearly the moral hole we have dug for ourselves here in the West, especially economically and politically, will profit from reading this important book. Gets to the root of the corruption plaguing our global system.

18 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars timely, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory (Paperback)

This book integrates buddhism and western social concerns, forging an important link that I've found missing in buddhist oriented texts. Enjoyable reading, timely politically, and IMPORTANT!