Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Families, Healthcare and Sustainable Societies
About this ebook
BACKGROUND
There have been major changes in world today and that the term Global Leadership and Sustainable Development is no longer taken for granted as a point of reference for understanding the contemporary chaotic situation. These disruptive changes mean that it is now arguable as to whether we still live in a world of justice, egality, peace and prosperity. The nature of these changes and the concepts of the Buddhist approach are central to the whole project of this book. In this light, we place great emphasis on understanding Buddhist teaching in dealing with this matter. We argue that any investigation of the changing character and context of the present time, needs to take account of the Buddhist philosophy. We focus on providing a thorough and critical understanding of change taking place as a starting point of discussion. In doing so, we attempt to clarify the nature of the Buddhist approach. It may be more productively understood as the result of a complex contested and fragile set of arrangements, which in this book we term as “approach”. We do not imply that the frameworks based on the Buddhist teachings are fully fixed and agreed by everybody. Rather it would refer to a set of arrangements that need to be further discussed.
Given the above, this volume collects together papers presented at the international workshop on Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Families, Healthcare and Sustainable Societies which took place on 13 May 2019 at International Conference Center Tam Chuc, Ha Nam, Vietnam on the occasion of THE 16TH UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK CELEBRATIONS 2019.
The participants in this workshop were not representative of the mainstream thinking or conventional wisdom of this field, although this volume reflects this richness and diversity. Treating the Buddha teachings as a basic theoretical reconstruction, we examine the relationships between the societies and Buddhist responsibilities. We combine analyses of the conflicts, trends and dynamics affecting future development with more focused studies on a range of policy areas: migration, education, leadership, climate change, etc…
Two of our most crucial presumptions are that making Buddhism great again at the time of disruption is our first and foremost duty and the Buddhist responsibility can contribute to creating a new foundation for Global Leadership and Sustainable Development.
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About the author
Most Ven. Dr. Thich Duc Thien obtained his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Delhi University in 2005, currently is Vice President-Secretary General of Executive Council of National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS); Vice Chairman of Vietnam – India Friendship Association; Head of the Department of International Buddhist Affairs of VBS; Vice Rector of Vietnam Buddhist University in Hanoi; and Senior Lecturer of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Tran Nhan Tong Academic Institute). He served as Secretary General of the 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam and continues to hold a major role in UNDV 2019. He has published, edited, and translated many books in Buddhist studies and history. He has received many prestigious recognitions from the Government of Vietnam (the Third-Class Labor Order), from the Royalty of Cambodia (the General Order), and from the Government of India (the Padma Shri Order).
Most Ven. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu obtained his D.Phil., in Philosophy from Allahabad in 2002, is the Founder of Buddhism
Today Foundation since 2000. He made valuable contribution as an editorial member of Hue Quang Encyclopedia of Buddhism (9 volumes, 1992-2007). He is editor-in-chief of the first ever audio Vietnamese Tripitaka, of the ongoing Vietnamese Tripitaka Translation project and Buddhism Today Series (over 250 books), as well as editor of more than two 200 CD albums on Buddhist music. He has authored more than 80 Vietnamese books on applied Buddhism. He has traveled extensively around the world to give public Dharma talks to Vietnamese communities in Vietnam, Canada, America, Australia, and Europe and has produced over 4,000 VCDs on various dharma topics.
Master Thich Nhat Tu now serves as Vice Rector of the Vietnam Buddhist University and Vice Chairman of the National Department of International Buddhist Affairs. Several universities conferred upon him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in appreciation of his excellent contributions to Buddhist education, his works on Buddhist academic research and leadership in international Buddhist communities. He has received many recognitions, awards, and titles from the Government of Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.
