Karma, Compassion, and Dharma: A Buddhist Perspective on Social Responsibility and Healthcare—A Reflection in Light of Buddhism

Ellen Ying Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    This essay addresses social responsibility regarding the issue of healthcare from a Buddhist perspective. Traditionally, Buddhism is viewed as a contemplative religion which focuses on a solitary quest for emancipation and spiritual advancement rather than active engagement in the world or a social movement. The question now is how to bring Buddhism into conversation with the current debate on social responsibility and healthcare based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The discussion of the essay includes Buddhist concepts of karma, dharma, and compassion and the interpretation of these concepts to respond to relevant issues under the debate, particularly in terms of the Western ideas of human rights, equality, and social justice.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationReligious Perspectives on Social Responsibility in Health
    Subtitle of host publicationTowards a Dialogical Approach
    EditorsJoseph Tham, Chris Durante, Alberto García Gómez
    Place of PublicationCham
    PublisherSpringer
    Chapter2
    Pages13-25
    Number of pages13
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Electronic)9783319718491
    ISBN (Print)9783319718484, 9783030101237
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 25 Dec 2018

    Publication series

    NameAdvancing Global Bioethics
    PublisherSpringer
    Volume9
    ISSN (Print)2212-652X
    ISSN (Electronic)2212-6538

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
    • Issues, ethics and legal aspects
    • Health(social science)
    • Health Policy

    User-Defined Keywords

    • Buddhism
    • Healthcare
    • Karma
    • Dharma
    • Social responsibility

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