Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte, and#8220;Cultural, Political and Social Changeand#8220;, is an extract from a question and answer session with Sangharakshita at the Croydon Buddhist Centre in November, 2004. The full recording can be found here: and#8220;An Evening with Sangharakshita.and#8221;
Dharmabytes from free buddhist audio
Cultural, Political and Social Change
[music] Dharma Bites is brought to you by Free Buddhist Audio, the Dharma for real life. Our work is funded entirely by donations from our generous listeners. If you would like to help us keep this free, come and join us at freebuddhistaudio.com/community. Thank you and happy listening. [music] So, first question. So there have been substantial changes, substantial cultural, political and social changes in the UK since the FWBO and the Western Buddhist order were founded in the late 60s. And what I was wondering are the aspects of the Dharma that you can see Sid and Need more or less emphasis now than when the movements in order were founded in those early days? Well, "sangsara" is always "sangsara". The pattern of "sangsara" changes from time to time. So, yes, in a sense, things are very different now. Thirty-six years after the movement was founded, then it was thin. But basically, I think nothing has changed very much. Most people are stood in front by greed, hatred and delusion. In fact, even many ordinary members are. So, the picture hasn't fundamentally changed. And therefore, I think what is needed is not fundamentally changed. We still need Sheila, we still need Samadhi, we still need Pragna. But if I was to point to something, something that was particularly needed at present, at least within our own movement, that we needed to emphasize more than we have in the past, I think it's just one thing, at least one thing that I can think of at the moment. And that is, I think we ought to try to live more simply. More simply. Because one of the things that has happened over the last so many years is that people generally have become much more prosperous. The allure of materialism has become more tempting. And it's very, very easy to get sucked into that. Very easy to get drawn into that. In fact, we have an illustration of that even causing itself. While I was first driven up to High Street, I think it was, yes, the evening before last, I was astonished to see the proliferation of bars and clubs and so on. They were not there 30 years ago. They weren't there probably 20 years ago, perhaps 15 years ago. And that is very symbolic of our present rather materialistic culture. So I think if there's anything, with all aspects of the Dharma need to be emphasized, but if there's anything that in this day and age, here in Britain, we need to emphasize more than ever, I think it is simplicity of life, simplicity of lifestyle, doing with less, not being bewildered by the multiplicity of choices, but frightened even by them. But it's just considered what we really do need in order to live a truly human life as a basis for a Buddhist spiritual life. Thank you. One strikes home rather pointedly. Thank you, Bento. We hope you enjoyed the talk. Please come and help us keep this free at freebuddhistaudio.com/community. And thank you. [music fades out] [music fades out] [music fades out] [music fades out] [BLANK_AUDIO]