The term "engaged Buddhism" was coined by the Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh as a way of asserting that Buddhism should not be passive or otherworldly, but on the contrary, that Buddhists should be deeply, compassionately involved in every aspect of society where suffering arises. Not Turning Away is a treasury of writings on the philosophy and practice of engaged Buddhism by some of the most well-known and respected figures in the movement, gleaned from the pages of the magazine that is the primary forum for engaged Buddhism in America and elsewhere: Turning Wheel: The Journal of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Not Turning Away provides a history of the engaged Buddhism movement, an analysis of its underlying principles, and inspiring practical examples of real people's experiences in putting spiritual practice to the test on the personal, national, and global levels. The range of topics—from political oppression to prison work, disability, racism, poverty, nonviolence, forgiveness, the student-teacher relationship, and homelessness—demonstrates the applicability of Buddhist teaching to every concern of modern life.

Contributors include:

Robert Aitken

Jan Chozen Bays

Melody Ermachild Chavis

Zoketsu Norman Fischer

Thich Nhat Hanh

Jack Kornfield

Kenneth Kraft

Joanna Macy

Jarvis Jay Masters

Fleet Maull

Susan Moon

Wendy Egyoku Nakao

Maylie Scott

Gary Snyder

Robert Thurman

Joan Tollifson

Diana Winston