The Wheel of Engaged Buddhism: A New Map of the Path

by Kenneth Kraft

Editorial reviews kenneth kraft (b 1949) is chair of the religious studies department at lehigh university in bethlehem, pennsylvania he holds a phd from princeton university (east asian studies), an ma from the university of michigan (far eastern languages and literatures), and a ba from harvard university at lehigh he teaches courses on zen, japanese religions, contemporary buddhism, and religion and the ecological crisishe is the author of the award-winning eloquent daito and early japanese zen and the wheel of engaged a new map of the path his edited books include tradition and transition and inner peace, world peace he is also the editor of two forthcoming books, dharma rain (with stephanie kaza) and zen teaching, zen practicekraft is a member of the advisory board of the forum on religion and ecology he is a former member of the board of directors of the buddhist peace fellowship, and he served on the board of trustees of the rochester zen center, 1986-1995 he lives in haverford, pennsylvania, with his wife and two daughters

Genres: Buddhism

104 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1380686.html

I was not quite sure what to make of this book. It outlines ten paths of action, all of which might be found in a good self-help book (they include 'Embracing Family', 'Working With Others' and 'Participating in Politics'), referred to a specific mandala in the shape of the eponymous wheel. But for me the book fell between the two stools of explanation and instruction. The reader is assumed to be already familiar with the history and culture of Buddhism; while mandalas in general are rather briefly explained, the background of this Wheel is not. So I didn't learn much from it, except to discover that Engaged Buddhism exists (but even there I found Wikipedia more informative).

[Jef Sneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think all Americans must struggle with the passive nature of Buddhism and the contradiction with American activism and politics. What if we all acted like Buddhists? Wouldn't the bad guys just take over the world? Kraft, who teaches at Lehigh, by the way, does a nice job explaining how Buddhism can fit in to the modern world. His construct, which I believe is original, is clever and holds together well.

The concept of compassion is the most difficult for me to grasp and follow. He does a nice job translating it into everyday actions. Worth a read for all confused proto-Buddhists.