Buddhism and society: On Buddhist engagement with society

Korean Buddhism, especially the Jogye Order, has been challenged in regard to its relatively disengaged role in contemporary Korean society. The issue of social engagement has been made urgent by Buddhism's recent past. Korean Buddhism failed to throw its full support behind the democratization movement. While there have been attempts to create a socially engaged Buddhism, they have had only a limited impact on the conservative Buddhist mainstream. On the doctrinal level, discussions on contemporary Korean Buddhism's role in society seem to converge on the nature on enlightenment in the Seon (Chan, Zen) Buddhist tradition. There is a widespread view that the transcendental nature of enlightenment is the obstacle that prevents Buddhists from becoming involved in social affairs. Winston King argues that both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism have been socially and politically passive as a result of their emphasis on individual salvation. Keel Hee-Sung question whether transcendental enlightenment in Seon Buddhism is compatible with social activism. These views represent a general trend among scholars working in the field.