"I know of no other book that holds more promise for the survival and relevance of Buddhism in the modern world."
"A work of deep and urgent relevance."
"Loy is a subversive, undermining our cherished opinions and revealing a revolutionary world of human possibility. He describes an emerging Buddhism that speaks to the Western heart and mind and offers hope in a world that has too little. Long live this revolution!"
"For Loy, Buddhism is not just some gentle spiritual path; it's a tool for social criticism and change. But the revolutionary sword cuts both ways, and just as the West needs Buddhism, says Loy, a living, vital Buddhism also needs the West."
"Direct, articulate, and profound. David R. Loy succinctly analyzes primary areas of our collective modern entanglements with suffering: consumerism, money values, ecological collapse, sexuality, relationships, time, language, identity, godlessness and the commodification of consciousness. In each case he brings to bear the core teachings of the Buddha in profound, up-to-date reflections on our collective situation."
"David Loy's is an urgent and vital voice in the Buddhist world, and his latest work is a passionate and bold survey of some of the big issues that face us individually and collectively. This thoughtful, probing work warrants the attention of anyone interested in creative change on either an individual or social level. I strongly recommend it."
"David Loy's Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution might have a flashy title, but it is a serious and substantial book that poses real challenges to the reader. Loy argues with conviction that in order to have relevance in the West, the dharma must find the middle way between its many traditional Asian forms and the contemporary Western feel-good consumerism that characterize much of today's spiritualism."
"Loy's thought provoking book has wide appeal: for people not so familiar with Buddhist thought and practice his emphasis is on why this 2500 year old religion is relevant today. For seasoned Buddhist practitioners, the book keeps us from thinking too small. Loy's analysis is a challenge to practice in the world wholeheartedly."
“A work of deep and urgent relevance.”—Ethan Nichtern, author of One City: A Declaration of Interdependence
“I know of no other book that holds more promise for the survival and relevance of Buddhism in the modern world.”—Lin Jensen, author of Pavement
”This book is revolutionary! The clear and concise explanations of Buddhist perspectives on rarely approached topics such as sex, war, and money are an inspiration. If you are interested in personal or societal change, this is a book you need to read.”—Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx
“Loy is a subversive, undermining our cherished opinions and revealing a revolutionary world of human possibility. He describes an emerging Buddhism that speaks to the Western heart and mind and offers hope in a world that has too little. Long live this revolution!”—James Ishmael Ford, author of If You're Lucky, Your Heart Will Break
“David Loy's Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution might have a flashy title, but it is a serious and substantial book that poses real challenges to the reader. Loy argues with conviction that in order to have relevance in the West, the dharma must find the middle way between its many traditional Asian forms and the contemporary Western feel-good consumerism that characterize much of today's spiritualism.”—Buddhadharma
“For Loy, Buddhism is not just some gentle spiritual path; it’s a tool for social criticism and change. But the revolutionary sword cuts both ways, and just as the West needs Buddhism, says Loy, a living, vital Buddhism also needs the West.”—Shambhala Sun
“Loy's thought provoking book has wide appeal: for people not so familiar with Buddhist thought and practice his emphasis is on why this 2500 year old religion is relevant today. For seasoned Buddhist practitioners, the book keeps us from thinking too small. Loy's analysis is a challenge to practice in the world wholeheartedly.”—Mountain Record
“David Loy’s is an urgent and vital voice in the Buddhist world, and his latest work is a passionate and bold survey of some of the big issues that face us individually and collectively. This thoughtful, probing work warrants the attention of anyone interested in creative change on either an individual or social level. I strongly recommend it.”—Western Buddhist Review
“Direct, articulate, and profound. David R. Loy succinctly analyzes primary areas of our collective modern entanglements with suffering: consumerism, money values, ecological collapse, sexuality, relationships, time, language, identity, godlessness and the commodification of consciousness. In each case he brings to bear the core teachings of the Buddha in profound, up-to-date reflections on our collective situation.”—Inquiring Mind
Loy (ethics, religion, & society, Xavier Univ.; The Great Awakening) would have us believe that Buddhism is better than sex. Or money. Or fame. Well, perhaps it's not exactly better, but, as Loy points out in this provocative look at contemporary America, Buddhism does offer us a way of better understanding why the things we pursue so fervently ultimately leave us unfulfilled. The book's title and its frivolous chapter headings (e.g., "How To Drive Your Karma") belie the seriousness of the text, which is never less than clear in dealing with obscure concepts and in urging an engaged Buddhist response to the difficulties of modern life. There is some repetition of ideas since many of the essays here first appeared as independent pieces in various publications, but for the most part, this repetition helps to reinforce what's being said. Offering non-Buddhists a stimulating framework for dealing with the perception of an emptiness in our secularized times and Buddhists a kick in the pants that disallows the concept of Buddhist practice as irresponsible, irrelevant, and inconsistent with the heart of the teachings, this thoroughly modern take on our contemporary situation deserves a wide reading. Recommended for all collections.
—Mark Woodhouse
