A rich debate has emerged on the Bearing Witness Blog regarding whether
it would be accurate to consider Shakyamuni Buddha a socially engaged
activist? This emerged after a review of opposing viewpoints from two
blogs: While the author of a recent post
on Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar argues that “Twist it and wring it
and pound it any way you like. Buddha did not engage in engaged
Buddhism,”Ramesh Bjonnes argues in an article
in the Elephant Journal that “Buddha was an animal and human rights
activist long before the popularity of PETA , Amnesty International,
vegan and vegetarian activism.” READ EXCERPTS FROM EACH BLOG AND JOIN THE DEBATE!