Today’s globalized society faces some of humanity’s most unprecedented social and environmental challenges. Presenting inspiring and effective approaches to a range of these challenges, the timely volume before you draws upon individual cases of exemplary leadership from the world’s Dharma traditions—Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The volume's authors refer to such exemplary leaders as “beacons of Dharma,” highlighting the ways in which each figure, through their inspirational life work, provide us with illuminating perspectives as we continue to confront cases of grave injustice and needless suffering in the world.

Taking on difficult contemporary issues such as climate change, racial and gender inequality, industrial agriculture and animal rights, fair access to healthcare and education, and other such pressing concerns, Beacons of Dharma offers a promising and much needed contribution to our global conversations. Seeking to help alleviate and remedy such social and environmental issues, each of the chapters in the volume invites contemplation, inspires action, and offers a freshly invigorating source of hope.

Contributions by: Michael Reading, Jeffery D. Long, Christopher Patrick Miller, Anne Vallely, Rita Sherma, Priyanka Ramlakhan, Sreedevi Bringi, Suzanne Schier-Happell, Westin Harris, Veena Howard, Judith Simmer-Brown, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Kusumita P. Pedersen, Tanya Storch, Nirinjan Kaur Khalsa-Baker, Francesca Cassio