For centuries, the term “Buddhist social work” has suggested tangible activities by Buddhist monks, nuns, and lay followers to help sentient beings end their suffering. These activities range from teaching dharma and counselling people, to conducting spiritual ceremonies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, many countries ordered Buddhist temples to stop all physical, in-person community activities to help prevent the spread of the viruses. This unprecedented situation poses an important question: How to perform Buddhist social work when traditional tangible help activities are not possible? In this short research note, I will reflect on “none-work” as an effective form of Buddhist social work practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. “None-work” means to help primarily through radiating inner energy to those in need of help, rather than being busy with physical and verbal actions. It means to radiate/transmit energies of unattachment, calmness, peace, “enough,” “no desires,” and “beyond duality” to enable help-seekers to also feel “enough” in themselves, thus liberating themselves from their endless desires for more. Buddhist social workers embodying none-work will “work” as if not working, without obligation and delusive significance given to the temporary tasks, goals, and the identity as a worker/helper. The paper will provide examples of none-work and discuss how none-work should be used even after Covid-19.
HUONG GIANG NGUYEN (Mon,) studied this question.