“NOT ONLY SHOULD WE SELF REALIZE INDIVIDUAL COMPASSION, WE SHOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY COMMIT TO BUILDING A COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.”

Alfredo Sfeir-Younis – Dzambling Cho Tab Khen

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism

Read More

WALKING WITH LAMA GANGCHEN TULKU RINPOCHE

“Inner Peace is the most solid foundation of peace in the world”

Watch on Planet Tara TV

World Peace

Today is the time to embrace the Path of Peace.
Peace in Everything, Everything in Peace.
Let’s meditate together.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 14.- Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relationships, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 13.- Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 12.- Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 11.- Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal of compassion.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 10.- Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 9.- Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 8.- Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 7.- Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 6.- Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 5.- Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life Fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 4.- Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images, and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 3.- Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 2.- Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

The 14 Precepts of Socially Engaged Buddhism: 1.- Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

A true path of peace is inevitably accompanied by renunciation

The obvious not practiced: the solutions will come from the inside out. Not the other way around.

We are living amidst a great confussion. Hold on to the basics.

I'm not if I'm not. I am not if you are not. I am not if they are not. I am not if we are not.

Worry about your external and internal wounds. Avoid them in your future lives.

I have learned a lot, but I know very little.

All reality around you arises from the consciousness that you possess.

We live in a dying civilization, transitioning to a new one.

Mayan knowledge is the inner alchemy of the future. Fire is the only element of life that has not been polluted. When fire is polluted, humanity ceases to exist as it is known today.

Although we often feel very disconnected from our being, life is a constant meditation.

The past should never be denied. You always have to live in the present. Together we must build the future.

We live in a world full of knowledge but possessing very little wisdom. The destination of knowledge is generally doing and having. The destiny of wisdom is Being.

The 21st century demands a different type of leader in both the private and public sectors, who is, among other things, a visionary (correct vision), knows how to think (correct intention), good communicator (correct language), experienced (correct action), committed (right effort), interdependent (right behavior), permanent presence (right attention), great concentration (right meditation).

The true change in our country will be a change of consciousness.

Maintaining harmony with the environment that houses us is essential for the well-being of our lives and the balance of its resources for our prosperity over time.

If we do not progress in our spiritual development and in a happier life, what good is economic growth?

We all need to self-realize the collective values of humanity: love, compassion, solidarity, justice, cooperation, peace and so many others. It will be through these values that one day we will be able to write a human story that fills us with satisfaction.

When the sun rises every morning in the Andes Mountains, everything feels like a great acupuncture of peace in the soul. Only what you really love will remain. Think about our nature.

GASTON SOUBLETTE: NATIONAL PEACE AWARD

For the first time in Chile, the International Association of Educators for World Peace awarded the National Peace Award to the philosopher, musicologist, esthete and scholar of traditional culture Gastón Soublette, who has contributed to education as a fundamental basis in its development. highlighting the concept of peace education and inner peace.

☸

Foundations of a New Planetary Order

The Great Law of Healing teaches us that to heal ourselves we must heal the planet. And, to heal the planet, we must heal ourselves. This minute represents only a proposal for mutual and interdependent healing.

☸

The Rights of Mother Earth

Live in her and with her
Get to know her more every day
To be hugged and protected by her.

☸

Final Moment Sutra – “Let’s Put It Inside Our Bowl”

I’ve heard them say That Shakyamuni Buddha Went into a process To ‘untie’ himself fully.

☸

Metta Consciousness: The Power of Transmission, and Human Transformation

The Power of Transmission is an essential trait of this new millennium. In these unexpected and ever changing times, there are powerful and enlightened transformations emanating from this Power of Transmission. No matter who originates change, the impacts are felt instantly everywhere in our planet. We are totally interdependent and inter-connected; thus, everyone and everything affects all human beings, sentient beings and nature.

☸

Universal Principles That Will Guide Humanity in This Millennium: Changing Our Narrative as a Human Race

The realization that we are one with all sentient beings and nature. That we experience the Planet Earth as a truly live entity: energy, behavior, memory and consciousness. In search of unity among communities, countries, and with all forms of life on this planet. The calculus of consent and welfare is to change now.

☸

What World do You Want? One “With” or one “Without”?

Virtual WGF-GBIF Day 1

☸

21st Century Leaders

AN EXCERPT OF THE BOOK LIFE IS A CONSTANT MEDITATION
BY ALFREDO SFEIR-YOUNIS – DZAMBLING CHO TAB KHEN

☸

How Long!

How long are we going to be at war?

☸

HEALING THE PLANET AS A CONDITION FOR GLOBAL PEACE

There will be no global peace unless we heal the world first.Peace is not just some ‘other’ option, or a conditional choice among many. It is our only human destiny. We come from peace and we will go back to peace.

☸

Spirituality And Public Policy: In Search Of A New Path For Globalization

In Chile we say that “there is no deadline that does not come, nor debt that you don’t pay”. This is used in many different situations.

☸

A New Ecomorality

Given the challenges we are facing today we all must aim to a new way of understanding nature.

☸

The Great Sower and The Great Soweress of the Universe

The Great Sower and The Great Sower of the Universe have once again allowed me to continue working with that plow that builds the furrow of time: unique, hopeful and committed. My infinite gratitude to them, and I hope I deserve the privilege of life.

☸

Personal Dimensions of Empowerment

Know yourself.

☸

HEALING THE PLANET FOR WORLD PEACE IS THE CENTER PIECE FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL ECONOMICS

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

The Four Seeds For Better Health, World Peace and Bountiful Human Transformation

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

Life is a Constant Meditation

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

2023 World Peace Day

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

The Three Law System That Determines Global Growth And World Peace

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

An Ecologically Civilized Nation

by Alfredo Sfeir-Younis

Join Our Network

THE TIME TO CHANGE THE WORLD IS NOW. THE BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PATH IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM. WE NEED TO WALK TOGETHER. AND THIS IS THE GOAL OF THIS NETWORK OF LOVE AND COMPASSION.

Neljor Sa
Planet Tara TV
LANSEB Affiliates

OVERVIEW

The Latin American Network of Socially Engaged Buddhists (LANSEB) is an institutional and social space created with the view to bring and nurture the wisdom and narratives regarding the teachings of the Buddha to transform our collective public reality (economics, politics, arts, science, governance, sustainability, human rights, natural law, spirituality, collective consciousness, institutions, communities, nature, animals, welfare…), and construct a better future.

As a network, it will try to create healthy, productive, useful and dynamic dialogues, to be disseminated all over Latin America.  It is not about the dissemination of an ‘ideology’ or ‘dogmas’; but, on the contrary, it is about making a contribution to, and with, other spiritual perspectives, to address and resolve the issues and challenges facing Latin American countries in the 21st century.

This is a network for Buddhists and Non-Buddhists alike.  Non-Buddhists may want to learn about the content and scope of Socially Engaged Buddhism, and be willing to disseminate the acquired knowledge.  In addition, both Buddhists and Non-Buddhists may jointly engage in research and studies regarding those themes which will be defined by the network at any point in time.

The principal source of inspiration and learning will come directly from the Sutras of the Buddha (Mahayana and Theravada).  This is an important attribute of this network, as compared with other forms of teaching and dissemination, which it is often based on secondary interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings.

As the network grows in size and content, the institutional framework of this Buddhist Hub will be established accordingly.  However, it will always be informal and grass-roots based.  It will be via formal and informal instruments that the network will influence social decision-making at all levels.

THE NATURE OF SOCIAL BUDDHISM

We have realized that we are inseparable interdependent selves.  Our true and transcending nature unfolds when every being unfolds.  The unfolding process has the human, nature and spiritual attributes in all their possible expressions of life.  Thus, the road to the solutions of our shared problems rests on our collective consciousness and collective actions and deeds.  Thus, the nature of Social Buddhism tries to capture this inseparable interdependent reality among all expressions of life and manifested and non-manifested consciousness.  The consciousness of human beings, sentient beings and nature; all, inseparables as ONE.

In one operational statement, in Socially Engaged Buddhism one is not only to self-realize, for example, compassion (KAROUNA) but, simultaneously, one has to commit one-self to the construction of a compassionate society.  In essence, we all must experience individual and collective forms of enlightenments.  We all must practice “The Spirituality of the Other”.  We all must establish the ground for the self-realization of mutuality. 

There is no separation between spirituality and economics, politics, business, institutions…  The practice of politics or economics without spirituality (e.g., practiced within an ethical and moral vacuum) becomes a suicidal path; and the spiritual practice outside the economic or political contexts, it becomes just another theoretical proposition.

The essence of the Network is to bring about the teachings of the Buddha in all these daily human realities.

MINI-HISTORY OF SOCIALLY ENGAGED BUDDHISM

Engaged Buddhism, also known as socially engaged Buddhism, refers to a Buddhist social movement that emerged in Asia in the 20th century. It is composed of Buddhists who seek to apply Buddhist ethics, insights acquired from meditation practice, and the teachings of the Buddhist dharma to contemporary situations of social, political, environmental, and economic suffering, and injustice. Modern engaged Buddhism emerged in Vietnam in the 1950s, from the teachings of Thiền Buddhist teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh. It was popularized by the Indian jurist, politician, and social reformer B. R. Ambedkar, who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement in the 1950s.
Engaged Buddhism emerged from a need to respond to world crises, particularly the Vietnam War. The term was new, but Buddhism that engages with social and political issues had already occurred throughout the world. Nhất Hạnh was inspired by the humanistic Buddhism reform movement in China by Taixu and Yinshun and later propagated in Taiwan by Cheng Yen and Hsing Yun. As early as 1946, Walpola Rahula identified an explicit social ethos present in the earliest recorded Buddhist teachings. He noted that the Buddha encouraged early monks to travel in order to benefit the largest number of people, and that his discourses to lay people often included practical instructions on social and economic matters, rather than being purely concerned with philosophical or soteriological concerns.

One way to view Engaged Buddhism is through Thích Nhất Hạnh’s “The Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism.

Herewith just a summary/sample of them:

Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. 

Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. 

Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. 

Do not avoid suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. 

Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. 

Do not maintain anger or hatred. 

Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. 

Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. 

Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.

Possess nothing that should belong to others. 

Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect

.

Buddhist teachings invite us to take responsibility for ourselves, and engaged Buddhists interpret this as taking responsibility for the entire sangha, the larger community, and our ecosystem. This is a collectivist notion of sangha as people working together for a society of justice, wherein Buddhist practice becomes the engaged activity of social change.

Identity

“Making Buddha’s social teachings universally accessible in Latin America, LANSEB mission is to create all the networking conditions to inner empower policy-makers through new forms of collective-spiritual-wisdom, to create a harmonious planetary livelihood and to alleviate human suffering through the enhanced power of collective consciousness.”

“It is imperative to move from the paradigm of individual materialism to inner-conscious-societies governed not by one, but three interdependently and inseparable bodies of laws: human, natural and spiritual. Through Buddhist social wisdom and practices, as taught directly by the Buddha, and still very relevant for the challenges we face in this 21st Century, LANSEB will spiritually reconnect private and public, inner and outer, material and non-material, individual and collective economics, politics, business and institutions”.

Any dimension of a given spiritual path is always supported by a collection of values, be them individual or collective values, material or spiritual values…  The Network will be greatly influenced by the values of generosity, cooperation, interdependence, mutuality, love, compassion, justice, rights, trust, equanimity, rigor, and many more.  As such, those values are not a “thing” but “a state of being”, and must be self-realized.  The constant interaction within the exchanges will accelerate the processes of self-realization of those values.

Organization

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

This is a completely decentralized and pro-bono based organization.  With time, there will be an elected President, Secretary General, and a Board of Directors; all working pro-bono. At the beginning, it will be run by the Founder and his team, so that the Network can be launched the soonest.

Each country of the region will have a Plenipotentiary Chancellor and Secretary General, in charge of each and every activity of the Network in their respective countries.  They will coordinate the Network’s campaigns established by the President and Board, to be implemented at the country level.

WHO MAY BELONG?

All persons may belong to this network; Buddhist or Non-Buddhists who agree with the Mission and Vision of this Network.  We must become the vessels of the Buddha’s social wisdom, to contribute and strengthen all possible decision making processes. 

No previous knowledge of Buddhism nor formal education is necessary or required.  The network will serve as an instrument of teaching and dissemination.

MAIN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Education and Training.

A series of activities addressing social Buddhism will be implemented, to strengthen education and training in the areas of economics, politics, institutions, social, human, etc.  This activity will be carried out in situ or through the mechanisms available in special media and other platforms.

Advisory Activities

The Network will provide advice to government, corporations, private sector entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, and the like, with the view to empower people with Buddhist spiritual principles and practices, and generate a strong push in the level of collective consciousness.  This advisory role will take many shapes and forms depending on the circumstances.

Meetings and Conference

There will be a series of conferences and meetings within the Latin American region to expand and disseminate Social Buddhist knowledge and wisdom.  These will include basic as well advanced training.

The Network of Networks

There will be connection with other Buddhists networks around the world, with the view to learn more from other networks experiences and wisdom.  Of particular importance are those networks in the continent of Asia.

Publishing Articles and Books

Publications will be carried out to disseminate the Network activities and knowledge.  Newsletter format will also be considered.

Dissemination

A series of dissemination techniques will be implemented.  One of them will be The Theme of the Month, with the view that many people may participate and engaged within their own countries of the region at large.

Other Activities

There will be a number of other activities designed to attain our mission and vision (interviews, promotion, advocacy, community development…).