Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution

by David R. Loy

Overview

• What's Wrong with Sex?
• How to Drive Your Karma
• Consciousness Commodified
• The Karma of Food
• The Three Poisons, Institutionalized
• Why We Love War

These are just some of the chapters in this brilliant book from David R. Loy.

In little time, Loy has become one of the most powerful advocates of the Buddhist worldview, explaining like no one else its ability to transform the sociopolitical landscape of the modern world.

In this, his most accessible work to date, he offers sharp and even shockingly clear presentations of oft-misunderstood Buddhist staples-the working of karma, the nature of self, the causes of trouble on both the individual and societal levels-and the real reasons behind our collective sense of "never enough," whether it's time, money, sex, security... even war.

Loy's "Buddhist Revolution" is nothing less than a radical change in the ways we can approach our lives, our planet, the collective delusions that pervade our language, culture, and even our spirituality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861715589
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	03/10/2008
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David R. Loy began Zen practice in Hawaii in 1971 with Yamada Koun and Robert Aitken, and continued with Koun Roshi in Japan, where he lived for almost twenty years. He was authorized to teach in 1988 and has led retreats and workshops at Mountain Cloud Zen Center, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Omega Institute, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Centro Kushi Ling in Italy, Ecodharma Centre in Spain, Terre d’Eveil in Paris, Gaia House Retreat Center in the UK, Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, and various Centro de Estudos Budistas Bodisatva Centers in Brazil, among others.

In 2014 David received an honorary PhD from his alma mater, Carleton College, for his years of work on socially engaged Buddhism. In 2016 he returned the degree, to protest the decision of the board of trustees not to divest from fossil fuel companies.

David’s books and articles have been translated into many languages. Recent books include A New Buddhist Path and Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis. He is one of the founders of the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center in Colorado. David’s writings, podcasts, and videos are available at www.davidloy.org.

Table of Contents

Introduction     1
The Suffering of Self     15
Lack of Money     25
The Great Seduction     31
Trapped in Time     37
The Second Buddha     45
How to Drive Your Karma     53
What's Wrong with Sex?     65
What Would the Buddha Do?     79
The Three Poisons, Institutionalized     87
Consciousness Commodified: The Attention-Deficit Society     95
Healing Ecology     103
The Karma of Food     113
Why We Love War     127
Notes for a Buddhist Revolution     139
Index     153
Acknowledgments     161

Editorial Reviews

"Loy's thought provoking book has wide appeal: for people not so familiar with Buddhist thought and practice his emphasis is on why this 2500 year old religion is relevant today. For seasoned Buddhist practitioners, the book keeps us from thinking too small. Loy's analysis is a challenge to practice in the world wholeheartedly."

Mountain Record

"A work of deep and urgent relevance."

Ethan Nichtern

"For Loy, Buddhism is not just some gentle spiritual path; it's a tool for social criticism and change. But the revolutionary sword cuts both ways, and just as the West needs Buddhism, says Loy, a living, vital Buddhism also needs the West."

Shambhala Sun

"Direct, articulate, and profound. David R. Loy succinctly analyzes primary areas of our collective modern entanglements with suffering: consumerism, money values, ecological collapse, sexuality, relationships, time, language, identity, godlessness and the commodification of consciousness. In each case he brings to bear the core teachings of the Buddha in profound, up-to-date reflections on our collective situation."

Inquiring Mind

"David Loy's Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution might have a flashy title, but it is a serious and substantial book that poses real challenges to the reader. Loy argues with conviction that in order to have relevance in the West, the dharma must find the middle way between its many traditional Asian forms and the contemporary Western feel-good consumerism that characterize much of today's spiritualism."

Buddhadharma

"This book is revolutionary! The clear and concise explanations of Buddhist perspectives on rarely approached topics such as sex, war, and money are an inspiration. If you are interested in personal or societal change, this is a book you need to read."

Noah Levine

"I know of no other book that holds more promise for the survival and relevance of Buddhism in the modern world."

Lin Jensen

"Loy is a subversive, undermining our cherished opinions and revealing a revolutionary world of human possibility. He describes an emerging Buddhism that speaks to the Western heart and mind and offers hope in a world that has too little. Long live this revolution!"

James Ishmael Ford

"David Loy's is an urgent and vital voice in the Buddhist world, and his latest work is a passionate and bold survey of some of the big issues that face us individually and collectively. This thoughtful, probing work warrants the attention of anyone interested in creative change on either an individual or social level. I strongly recommend it."

Western Buddhist Review

“A work of deep and urgent relevance.”—Ethan Nichtern, author of One City: A Declaration of Interdependence

“I know of no other book that holds more promise for the survival and relevance of Buddhism in the modern world.”—Lin Jensen, author of Pavement

”This book is revolutionary! The clear and concise explanations of Buddhist perspectives on rarely approached topics such as sex, war, and money are an inspiration. If you are interested in personal or societal change, this is a book you need to read.”—Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx

“Loy is a subversive, undermining our cherished opinions and revealing a revolutionary world of human possibility. He describes an emerging Buddhism that speaks to the Western heart and mind and offers hope in a world that has too little. Long live this revolution!”—James Ishmael Ford, author of If You're Lucky, Your Heart Will Break

“David Loy's Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution might have a flashy title, but it is a serious and substantial book that poses real challenges to the reader. Loy argues with conviction that in order to have relevance in the West, the dharma must find the middle way between its many traditional Asian forms and the contemporary Western feel-good consumerism that characterize much of today's spiritualism.”—Buddhadharma

“For Loy, Buddhism is not just some gentle spiritual path; it’s a tool for social criticism and change. But the revolutionary sword cuts both ways, and just as the West needs Buddhism, says Loy, a living, vital Buddhism also needs the West.”—Shambhala Sun

“Loy's thought provoking book has wide appeal: for people not so familiar with Buddhist thought and practice his emphasis is on why this 2500 year old religion is relevant today. For seasoned Buddhist practitioners, the book keeps us from thinking too small. Loy's analysis is a challenge to practice in the world wholeheartedly.”—Mountain Record

“David Loy’s is an urgent and vital voice in the Buddhist world, and his latest work is a passionate and bold survey of some of the big issues that face us individually and collectively. This thoughtful, probing work warrants the attention of anyone interested in creative change on either an individual or social level. I strongly recommend it.”—Western Buddhist Review

“Direct, articulate, and profound. David R. Loy succinctly analyzes primary areas of our collective modern entanglements with suffering: consumerism, money values, ecological collapse, sexuality, relationships, time, language, identity, godlessness and the commodification of consciousness. In each case he brings to bear the core teachings of the Buddha in profound, up-to-date reflections on our collective situation.”—Inquiring Mind

From the Publisher