Suffering and Social Justice: A Buddhist Response to the Gospel of Luke

Abstract

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus expressed great compassion for the poor and actively sought ways not only to alleviate their condition but also to change the social structures that created their suffering in the first place. Although the methods that Jesus used to achieve the reduction of suffering differed from those used by Buddhist bodhisattvas-more emphasis on action, for example, and less on meditative wisdom-the model of Jesus as social activist can helpfully inform modern movements within the Buddhist tradition that emphasize social justice, such as engaged Since the Second World War, it has become cliche in Buddhist-Christian dialogue circles to say that what Buddhism has to learn from Christianity centers on concepts of justice and social action and strategies for promoting economic and political welfare.1 But, in a reading of the Gospel of Luke, this is clearly a central issue in the encounter between Christianity and Buddhism. Luke's social gospel is so clear and decisive that we must ask, What are primary presentations of social justice, and how would a Buddhist respond to them? Clearly, there can be no single Buddhist point of view on social justice. My observations arise from an understanding of the sutra and commentarial traditions of Mahayana Buddhism as preserved in Tibetan lineages. Certainly, these comments on Luke are not informed by the wealth of commentaries and theologies that have arisen from Lukan tradition; rather, they come from a direct reading and contemplation of the text itself. It must first be acknowledged that the social justice tradition of Christianity was influenced by the atmosphere of adversity that is the backdrop of the Gospels; first-century Palestine was fraught with political strife and rhetoric as well as persecution and already had a strong Messianic and prophetic voice.2 The language of crisis and decision permeate Luke, and the Messianic themes of humiliation and glory give the Gospel a dramatic edge and shape a great deal of the social theology one sees there. This is in Buddhist-Christian Studies 16 (1996). ? by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.17 on Fri, 02 Sep 2016 05:40:55 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms