Engaged Buddhism is a term originally coined by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. During the Vietnam War, he and his sangha (spiritual community) made efforts to respond to the suffering they saw around them. They saw this work as part of their meditation and mindfulness practice, not apart from it. Since then, the term continues to apply to Buddhists who are seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and dharma teachings to situations of social, political, and economic suffering and injustice.

Organizations such as the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists are devoted to building the movement of engaged Buddhists. Other engaged Buddhist groups include Peacemaker Circles International, led by Roshi Bernard Glassman. Leaders in the movement include Robert Aitken Roshi, Joanna Macy, Gary Snyder, Alan Senauke, Sulak Sivaraksa, Maha Ghosananda, Diana Winston, and Joan Halifax.