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The Dharma Manifesto: A New Vision for Global Transformation
The Dharma Manifesto is a call to action for those who seek a form of social and political action that has a firm spiritual foundation, but which also challenges the prevailing social and religious order in the postmodern West. It does not merely offer criticism - it is also a blueprint for how a national community founded upon Dharmic principles could operate in the twenty-first century. Its author defines the term "Dharma," which in the ancient Sanskrit language means "Natural Law," in an unconventional way. For those who embrace Dharma Nationalism, Dharma is predicated upon the pressing need for the organic and munificent resacralization of culture and of all human endeavor, as well as the manifestation of the highest potentials attainable by every individual in society in accordance with transcendental principles. Thus, Dharma does not only refer to traditions with which it is usually associated such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but also to the Taoist, Confucian, Zoroastrian, Native American, and European pagan traditions, all of which, this book holds, share a common, basic worldview. This book is therefore a resource for those who want to carry out both an inward, contemplative revolution within themselves as well an outer, social revolution in the world around them, in harmony with one another. It is intended to serve as a systematic program signaling the beginning of a what will hopefully be a new era in humanity's eternal yearning for meaningful freedom and happiness. Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya is the founder, philosophical guide, and leader of the global Dharma Nation movement. He has been a follower of Sanatana Dharma (popularly known as "Hinduism") for the last four decades, and has been a recognized authority in the tradition since 1988. He holds a doctorate in Religious Studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He has written and lectured extensively on various issues related to Dharma at many academic conferences, universities and interfaith events.
196 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2016
Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya's book is about synthesizing western politics with eastern spirituality. This is a topic that few people with knowledge of eastern philosophical systems want to tackle, since part of the reason that many people favor eastern religions over western religions is that western religions have so much political baggage, and some of that baggage is truly very ugly.
The Dharma Manifesto is a book that will make you have an opinion on it. Regardless of rather or not you agree with it it is very provocative. I have read many similar books to this one, and read many articles on the topic of a third political ideology that is neither Left nor Right and that is grounded in a spiritual outlook on life, and I think that this book can serve as a healthy introduction to that kind of increasingly popular outlook.
The strengths of The Dharma Manifesto are that it is so easy to read, often stirs up powerful emotions in the reader, and is well intelligently argued without being pretentious. The author is passionate about the cause and it leaps off the page. It gets the reader to consider a worldview that is spiritual as opposed to secular but without being dogmatic or zealous.
The weaknesses of it are some editing errors and the fact that it tries to be decisive, creating enemies out of groups or ideologies which in my opinion is rather pointless when you only disagree with a few key points.
If there is a "third political movement" that is truly steeped in a perennial philosophy (ala Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy) it must not attack other religions - that goes against the whole point of Perennialism is supposed to be about, in my view - and it must not lose the qualities of openness, tolerance, and freedom that has made eastern religions so popular in the west.
Regardless of where you are on the belief spectrum (religious/spiritual/atheistic/agnostic, left/right/center), this is a challenging and enjoyable work that can easily serve as a gateway to other books like it if you are interested. Congrats to Sri Dharma on bravely declaring a new political view and of trying his best to get the ball rolling.
The Dharma Manifesto is a book that will make you have an opinion on it. Regardless of rather or not you agree with it it is very provocative. I have read many similar books to this one, and read many articles on the topic of a third political ideology that is neither Left nor Right and that is grounded in a spiritual outlook on life, and I think that this book can serve as a healthy introduction to that kind of increasingly popular outlook.
The strengths of The Dharma Manifesto are that it is so easy to read, often stirs up powerful emotions in the reader, and is well intelligently argued without being pretentious. The author is passionate about the cause and it leaps off the page. It gets the reader to consider a worldview that is spiritual as opposed to secular but without being dogmatic or zealous.
The weaknesses of it are some editing errors and the fact that it tries to be decisive, creating enemies out of groups or ideologies which in my opinion is rather pointless when you only disagree with a few key points.
If there is a "third political movement" that is truly steeped in a perennial philosophy (ala Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy) it must not attack other religions - that goes against the whole point of Perennialism is supposed to be about, in my view - and it must not lose the qualities of openness, tolerance, and freedom that has made eastern religions so popular in the west.
Regardless of where you are on the belief spectrum (religious/spiritual/atheistic/agnostic, left/right/center), this is a challenging and enjoyable work that can easily serve as a gateway to other books like it if you are interested. Congrats to Sri Dharma on bravely declaring a new political view and of trying his best to get the ball rolling.
July 26, 2017
While I'm not sorry I read this book, and agree with some of the author's perspectives (and it's always good to be exposed to alternative view points), this was not the Dharma I know. I found his view to be as militaristic and close-minded as the Abrahamic religions he so brazenly disdains.
February 14, 2020
Flabby and toothless philosophy.
Shelved as 'back-burner'
February 27, 2015I don't think I'm the right audience for this book. At all.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews