Socially Engaged Buddhism in Latvia: “Latvia for Tibet”
Socially Engaged Buddhism in Latvia: “Latvia for Tibet”

Summary/Abstract: In recent years there has been growing academic acknowledgement of a contemporary Buddhist phenomenon described as Engaged or Socially Engaged Buddhism (SEB). Finding its roots in Vietnam through the Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh (1926) who opposed Vietnam War in 1960s, Engaged Buddhism has grown in popularity in the West and at present this movement cuts across the lay-monastic divide. In general, this term refers to contemporary movements that develop Buddhist solutions to political, social and ecological problems. Except Buddhists from traditional Buddhism areas, it also includes Western converts . Inspired by Buddhist values and united by a commonality to reduce suffering in the world, such individuals and groups are socially engaged in many forms of social and environmental protests, social service and analyses. In this way Buddhists try to cultivate inner peace and compassion both introspectively and socially.

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