Socially Engaged Buddhism

King (philosophy and religion, James Madison U., Virginia) describes a politically and socially active form of Buddhism that rose in response to war, repression, and other ills in Buddhist Asia during the 20th century. It has become a large and powerful movement, she says, that gives voice to people's political aspirations, can bring down governments, provides a path of psychological and practical liberation to the oppressed and of economic development to the impoverished. Her perspectives include philosophy and ethics, war and peace, economics, ecology, human rights and criminal justice, and challenging tradition. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)