From a Weberian perspective, contemporary mainstream values were shaped by the special historical experiences of Protestants and the bourgeoisie. In comparing Buddhism to Protestantism, Max Weber characterized Buddhism as a negative and world-renouncing religion, which could not face contemporary social and political issues. This approach to Buddhism has influenced the thinking of most contemporary scholars. Humanistic Buddhism, on the other hand, characterized by Master Taixu’s philosophy of “participate in politics but not in governance,” allows Buddhism to have an “inner-worldly” orientation, meaning a positive attitude towards the mundane world. This paper explores how Venerable Master Hsing Yun, by reviewing the words and deeds of the Buddha towards secular politics, developed the positive political attitude of Humanistic Buddhists towards contemporary civil society, and how, from a Weberian perspective, he promoted a form of Buddhist “inner-worldly involvement.”
