At least every Asian country with a Buddhist community has experienced some sort of civil war, foreign invasion, or systematic poverty and tyranny. During the Khmer Rouge era, Buddhism was almost destroyed. The monks were tortured, killed and forced into secular life. Buddhist temples were destroyed and used as prisons. After the defeat of the Khmer Rouge, Buddhism remained repressed in Cambodia. Some monks or Buddhist leaders have responded with forms of social engagement. That said, Maha Ghosananda is one of the monks who played a key role in rebuilding Buddhism in Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. His work, Dhammayietras, was the first program promoting peace and non-violence in Cambodia. Dhammayietras consisted of peace walks through war-torn and mine-infested regions. This nonviolence and social action is considered “engaged Buddhism.” The idea of “engaged Buddhism” emphasizes the need for compassion for compassionate action to be rooted in Buddhist practice. Ghosananda's activism rebuilt Buddhism in Cambodia by teaching peace through example. T...
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