The political, ethical and philosophical questions surrounding human rights are debated vigorously in political and intellectual circles throughout the world and now in this volume.

Even if it is felt that this objection is overstated, and that the issue of human rights does not have a legitimate place on the Buddhist agenda, there would still remain the separate and no less difficult question of how human rights were to be grounded in Buddhist doctrine, particularly in the light of the fact that the tradition itself provides little precedent or guidance in this area. Questions of the above kind are discussed from a variety of perspectives in the papers in this volume.

Universal declarations of human rights
human rights and universal responsibility
a Buddhist response to the nature of human rights
are there human rights in Buddhism? why are there no rights in Buddhism - a reply to Damien Keown
why the Buddha has no rights
Buddhism and human rights in the thoughts of Sulak
human rights and compassion
Buddhist resignation and human rights, socially engaged Buddhism's contribution to the transformation of Catholioc social teaching on human rights
human rights and cultural values - the political values of the Dalai Lama and the People's Republic of China
Buddhist ethics and business strategy making. Epilogue
bibliography on Buddhism and human rights.