Journal of Dharma

Global Family Vibe of Vasudhaiva Kuṭuṁbakaṁ: A Kilbian-Like Innovation for One Life-One Destiny

Mathew Attumkal — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Some expressions are not mere phrases but powerful thoughts that herald transformation in our global consciousness. The notions of ‘Gen Z’ and ‘Vibe’—two interconnected ideas in contemporary lexicon— exemplify this phenomenon. Gen Z is a generation that embodies the spirit of change, embracing every ‘vibe’ as a stepping stone toward a more inclusive future. This ‘Gen Z Vibe’ as a ‘Global Family Vibe’ mirrors a new mode of unity—where the freedom to express unique identities coexists with an understanding that everyone is part of a broader and interdependent world. Social media and public sphere serve as platforms for them to promote a culture that values inclusivity and fluidity in personal identity.

With a strong commitment to social justice, Gen Z vibe champions diversity and challenges established conventions, viewing both technology and society as integral to their identity, shaping how they communicate, create and engage with the world. This evolving worldview transcends barriers and man-made boundaries acknowledging the interconnectedness and interdependence of all forms of beings. In this context, we explore the enduring significance of the ancient Indian wisdom of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्: Mahā Upaniṣad 6:71) – the idea that the world is one family – and its relevance to modern societies where cultural, political, social, religious and technological boundaries are constantly being drawn and redrawn.

Mathew Attumkal — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

table of contents

Echoes of Vasudhaiva Kuṭuṁbakaṁ in Gandhi’s Ahiṁsā

Rajen Lakra — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines Gandhian notion of ahiṁsā as an embodiment of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ - the world as one family. To foster friendship and unity among people from diverse cultures and faiths, ahiṁsā is presented as a living embodiment of love, compassion, and empathy. The notion of a universal family is to be rooted in ahiṁsā, a guiding principle that promotes individual conduct linked with collective well-being and highlights the interconnectedness of all living beings. The article also briefly explores how these principles apply to the modern global ethos, emphasizing the need to shift from an individualistic perspective to a more communitarian one. This approach to global family encourages everyone to honour and preserve the dignity of all animate beings. By integrating non-violent means and practices, the realization of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ becomes a viable alternative for addressing contemporary issues of social justice and achieving lasting peace for humanity.

One Global Family

Yiwen Guo — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article investigates the relevance and application of Confucianism in today’s globalized society, emphasizing its influence on individual, familial, social, and global dynamics. It explores Confucian philosophy as a comprehensive framework for addressing various aspects of life, including management and organizational practices, both in East Asia and internationally. The study also addresses the challenges, critiques, adaptations, and innovations within Confucianism, comparing it with Western philosophies to reveal opportunities for coexistence and social development in a pluralistic world. Finally, the article traces the evolution of Confucianism, from Confucius' progressive vision to its integration with other traditions, culminating in its emergence as a global philosophy that promotes the idea of a united world family.

Ecological Civilization and the Path to Ecological Citizenship

Chen Zeng and William Sweet — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Increasing ecological consciousness is a necessary response to the global environmental crisis and an important way to construct a sustainable society. China's policy of 'ecological civilization,' initiated in 2007, seeks to combine environmental protection with sustainable development but has faced challenges in practice, such as poor environmental governance and industrial pressures. In response, the principle of 'ecological citizenship' has emerged, encouraging individuals and communities to take ethical responsibility for the environment. This notion has global significance, and is in tune with the principle of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ, which envisions a world united in fostering sustainability and collective well-being. Integrating these principles can lead to a more cooperative and ethical approach to environmental protection on a global scale.

Global Poverty and Human Security

Jipson Joseph and Achyutananda Mishra — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Poverty has been a persistent issue throughout human history, affecting societies worldwide. In the major industrialized nations, social welfare policies served as the primary approach to poverty alleviation until the late 20^th century. In 1994, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced a human-centred sustainable development model, emphasizing human security as a means to eradicate poverty and other forms of insecurity. Despite these efforts, data from the World Bank and other international organizations indicate that a significant portion of the global population remains impoverished, highlighting the ongoing need for development and inclusivity. The ancient Indian concept of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ, which promotes open-mindedness, interconnectedness, brotherhood, and fairness, offers a universal vision rooted in a family model. Interpreted in a contemporary context, vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ presents a global perspective that resonates with the principles of human security. Integrating this concept with the human security framework holds the potential to address global poverty and promote the universality of human rights. This article seeks to reconstruct the human security paradigm through the perspective of vasudhaiva kuṭuṁbakaṁ in order to eradicate poverty and promote global well-being.

Surplus Suffering and Human Interconnectedness

Kim Jonggab — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Suffering is a universal experience that transcends individual lives, prompting existential questions such as "why me?" and "what is happening?" Far from being isolated, such suffering can lead to collective self-awakening, enabling the discovery of deeper truths that connect us all as part of a shared human condition. However, our medicalized culture often neutralizes these profound inquiries by focusing on the immediate alleviation of pain through medication. This paper, centered on depression, seeks to demedicalize and spiritualize suffering by exploring it as a vital part of our interconnected human experience. Freud's psychological model of depression is juxtaposed with Kierkegaard's spiritualized perspective, emphasizing the latter's capacity to foster spiritual growth not just individually, but as a shared human endeavor. This article argues that spirituality emerges not from divine intervention but through the collective human experience of suffering and existential questioning. Just as subjectivity is inherently relational, so too is the spirit, which finds its fullest expression through our shared human struggles.

Confucian Belief-System Towards Political Well-Being

Lee Kwanhu — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the legitimation of government, the beliefs of the people are essential. A belief system, distinct from authority, government, or power, is a collection of shared convictions. Without the people's recognition of the political relationship grounded in these belief systems, government becomes untenable. Since every government must secure political legitimacy, a belief system rooted in culture, morality, and religion is necessary. Confucianism, from its inception, serves as such a belief system, bridging religion, moral principles, and social-political norms. Within Confucianism, the right to govern is granted by the ‘Mandate of Heaven.’ Even today, many South Korean politicians often refer to Mencius' words during election campaigns: "The mind of Heaven is the mind of the people". The idea that "Heaven only hears the voice of the people" reflects the sentiment of limited government within Korea's representative system.

Christianity and Politics in Modern Japan

Eun-Young Park and Do-Hyung Kim — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When examining Christianity in Japan, establishing a relationship with the state became a vital ideological challenge, especially as the collaboration of churches with the government during World War II raised profound moral and spiritual dilemmas for Japanese Christians. Historically, like other religions such as Buddhism, Japanese Christianity minimized its doctrinal elements in state interactions, seeking recognition by aligning with state-driven goals such as morality, education, and national ideology. This paper explores how modern Japanese Christianity navigated these complexities and developed a global relationship with the state, using a connected historical approach to religio-political wellbeing. By employing this framework, we trace how Christianity balanced political entanglements with preserving its religious integrity, reshaping its mission to align with state objectives. This research provides a compelling case of how religion and politics intertwined in Japan, giving rise to distinctive characteristics that helped cultivate a vision of a global family among Japanese citizens. Ultimately, the article highlights how Christianity in modern Japan sought both survival and influence, contributing to a more integrated understanding of religio-political wellbeing and global interconnectedness.

Half Sound, Half Philosophy

Zihan Meng — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Jing Wang’s book Half Sound, Half Philosophy discusses how musical and artistic trends have shifted from connecting with nature and cultivating moral values to prioritizing advertisements, technology and individualism. In the past, people actively engaged with music as participants, but today they are mostly passive listeners or entertainers, which has diminished the philosophy of music’s transformative power. The book highlights that music should not just be seen as a simple practice but as an experimental art that connects with cosmic, moral and aesthetic values, shaping life itself. Sound art is not just an abstract concept but a way of life intertwined with both thought and practice. The author explores this idea by linking qi-philosophy with qi-sound, offering insights into the role of sound art in fostering creativity, especially in practical fields like architecture and daily life.

Developing Mission

Hong Guo and Xiaoyang Xiao — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Joseph W. Ho’s Developing Mission makes a unique contribution to visual studies by taking a distinctive approach. The book examines how American missionaries in early to mid-twentieth-century China used photography and film to shape transnational ministry, construct cross-cultural identities, and capture the traumas of wartime. Ho's in-depth critical analysis of these visual practices raises important questions about preservation and accessibility, while also charting a new course for future research. His work offers a fresh and compelling perspective, opening up intriguing avenues for further exploration in the field.

The Birth of the Meiji Empire (明治大帝の誕生)

Sam-Hun Park — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding the meaning of State Shinto is the key to elucidating the modern Japanese history in religion and spirit. It makes clear how the self-identity of the Japanese people has transformed since the Meiji Restoration and to the present. In this sense, ‘State Shinto’ can be considered a core concept for describing the overall picture of the spiritual life of the Japanese, which so-called theories on Japanese people or Japanese culture have yet to fully explain. In this book, the author suggests the concept of ‘Divine Emperor’ as a new framework for understanding State Shinto and introduces ‘Emperor Meiji’ as its historical embodiment.