A single spotlight illuminates a microphone stand on the stage. From the behind the curtain steps a man in a saffron robe. He steps to the microphone and says “Three monks walk into a bar. Given the title “Stand up Buddhists” I just had to picture a monk at open mic night.
Matthew Weiner wrote has an article published in the International Herald Tribune titled “Buddhists who stand up.” Something he points out is that Buddhists do more than just meditate.
Westerners tend to think of Buddhism as a passive religion, focused on silent meditation and personal spiritual growth. The image of the Buddha seated with a smile sums it up.
So while the West is highly familiar with conflict and activism in other religions, the “saffron revolution” in Burma and the “high altitude revolt” in Tibet have come as a surprise to many.
In fact, there is a healthy tradition of Buddhist activism. Often called “engaged Buddhism,” a term coined by Thich Nhant Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, it encourages a Buddhist critique of governmental and economic structures and other efforts to alleviate social suffering.
Take the time to read the article for some interesting non-violent protest methods done by Buddhists over the years.
