Short Structured Biography Full Name: David Robert Loy
Date of Birth: 1947
Nationality: American
Profession: Scholar, Zen teacher, and author
Areas of Expertise: Buddhist philosophy, social and ecological ethics, non-duality, and the intersection of Buddhism and modernity
Academic Background Ph.D. in Philosophy from National University of Singapore (1984), focusing on modern interpretations of Buddhist thought.
Former professor of ethics and religion at Bunkyo University in Japan.
Spiritual Background Authorized Zen teacher in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage of Zen Buddhism.
Combines academic rigor with meditative insight in addressing social, environmental, and existential issues.
Major Works 1. Lack and Transcendence: The Problem of Death and Life in Psychotherapy, Existentialism, and Buddhism Publisher: Humanity Books, 1996 (revised 2000)
ISBN: 978-1573923594
Summary: Explores how Western thought (particularly existentialism and psychoanalysis) intersects with Buddhist concepts of "lack" and selflessness.
- The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory Publisher: Wisdom Publications, 2003
ISBN: 978-0861713653
Summary: Argues for a socially engaged Buddhism that tackles structural suffering in modern society.
- Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution Publisher: Wisdom Publications, 2008
ISBN: 978-0861715589
Summary: A collection of essays on Buddhist responses to contemporary moral and existential crises.
- The World Is Made of Stories Publisher: Wisdom Publications, 2010
ISBN: 978-0861716159
Summary: Challenges the notion of a stable, objective reality; emphasizes narrative and meaning-making.
- A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution, and Ethics in the Modern World Publisher: Wisdom Publications, 2015
ISBN: 978-1614290025
Summary: Reimagines Buddhist practice for the Anthropocene age—integrating ecology, evolution, and activism.
Additional Resources Official Website: https://www.davidloy.org
Affiliations: Co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center and contributor to Engaged Buddhism initiatives globally.
