I'm Krista Tippett, today how the social thought of the Buddha might speak to modern crises

of economy, war, and politics.

My guest, Pankaj Mishra, pursued the history and meaning of the Buddha across the globe

and emerged with the startling critique of our world and our time.

How should I live?

You know, it sounds sort of bewilderingly large, but that is the question that almost all

of us are faced with every day.

And one of the things that, for me, distinguished the Buddha from a whole lot of very important

Western thinkers, he's not saying that you have to sort of reform a whole society in order

to achieve happiness.

He's sort of posing a kind of challenge to individuals, how can you arrive at contentment

or happiness, and also thereby create conditions for happiness of other people around you.

This is Speaking of Faith, stay with us.

This public radio podcast is supported by the Fetzer Institute as part of its campaign

for Love and Forgiveness online at loveandforgive.org.

I'm Krista Tippett, do desiring and acquiring make us happy?

Does large-scale political change really address human suffering?

My guest, this hour journalist Pankaj Mishra, pursued the answers to these questions in

travels across India and Europe, Afghanistan and America, as he followed the social relevance

of the Buddhist thought.

Through that journey, Pankaj Mishra developed a startling critique of modern political

economy.

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