You have to admire the balls that some people have - the sheer size of their karmic cajones. Kyle has started a new blog, The Buddhist Reformation, that will address some of the changes that Buddhist movements are making in the West as well as some of the waves. However, it seems that the tone of the blog is that Buddhism is already an established part of Western society, which it isn't. You can't really reform something that isn't even established yet. Now this was a reformation.
I have always enjoyed the image of a turning Dharma Wheel and of someone turning that Wheel. Even the Buddha has a great respect for the Dharma because he didn't create it - he found it. He discovered it. IT already existed. Sometimes that Wheel turns fast and sometimes slow. But one thing is certain - many hands turn it and only a few are "Western".
The Dharma hasn't been established in the West yet. Just a few daring individuals from other cultures that wished to create something new in someplace unexplored. Explorers in a new realm. But even before there is an opportunity to establish something in the West - before it has even begun - we are already creating camps, erecting walls and insisting that we are being repressed.
Western Convert Buddhists insist that they are not taken seriously by other culture-based traditions and those Culture-Based Buddhists (I have no better term) insist that they are not well-represented in the mainstream media. In my opinion, both standpoints are silly.
Most of all, there are more than some that believe the West can't create its own tradition. They feel that the West is somehow evil and wrong, that the culture is ugly and shameful. And this is the kind of radical politics that are driving away countless people that are in desperate want and need from relief from suffering.
I don't recall in recent history even seeing the Dharma move into a new culture. We look at Indian, Chinese and Japanese history and see schools at odds with each other. Schools that already have a long history and establishment. New schools arise (Jodo Shin Shu and Nichiren for example in Japan) and the government and religious establishment is immediately worried that their control over the spiritual growth of their parisisioners will be in jepordy. Thus laws and restrictions are passed and people/groups/sanghas are prosecuted. Those reformist groups then continue their practice and voice. That is a reformation.
In the West it is no more than toddling youngsters crying because a favorite toy is being grabbed by another toddler.
This Westernization is only the next manifestation of the dharma; it is not meant to tear down other cultures, but build up a new one. Just as countless other cultures have created their own tradition of Buddhism, so can the West.
We should discard this term "Westernize". In the long run, the West isn't going to change the Dharma; the Dharma is going to change the West...but don't hold your breath, it may take a while. And when it does happen the term most apt will be the "conglameratization" of Buddhism in the West. Many little multi-colored pieces of stubborn rock in a sweet matrix of Dharma...but then what would Angry Asian and Progressive Buddhists talk about.
Don't think that I am trying to be critical of either Arun or Kyle. I love the shit they throw, and their insights as well as the dust they kick up. But every once in a while we really got to chill out a bit...maybe have a beer, eat some peanuts, then drink some more beer
That being said, I am looking forward to the posts
Cheers,
Don't think that I am trying to be critical of either Arun or Kyle. I love the shit they throw, and their insights as well as the dust they kick up. But every once in a while we really got to chill out a bit...maybe have a beer, eat some peanuts, then drink some more beer
That being said, I am looking forward to the posts
Cheers,
Reminds me of the pink Floyd song, Us and Them. Ya know what's sad, I've gotten more hits in 2 days with almost no linking than some of my posts at progressive gets in a week.
ReplyDeletePeople Love Mud!!!
Jack, clicked on your link to Kyle's blog and it "doesn't exist".
ReplyDeleteI don’t recall in recent history even seeing the Dharma move into a new culture.
ReplyDeleteOne obvious example would be the move of the Dharma (back) to India – particularly mainstream Indian culture – a relatively recent phenomenon which really only picked up steam in the past fifty years. Keep in mind that Buddhism reforms have always been going on in Asia, and continue to renew the Buddhist community. These very reform movements over the past half century gave birth to the world’s largest Buddhist charities, with more volunteers than all non-Asian Buddhists combined.
Culture-Based Buddhists (I have no better term) insist that they are not well-represented in the mainstream media.
Who are those Culture-Based Buddhists? And which of them (other than me) have you noticed thus insisting?
@barkingunicorn:
ReplyDeleteI think that Kyle took it down to jazz it up a bit.
@Arun
I figured that there was a move back to India but I had no specifics about so I didn't include it. I briefly included some of the Refomations I knew that occured in Asia and I never said that they were bad (rarely I think reformation or change to be bad). My comments were meant to show that a Buddhist "reformation" in the West is silly since Buddhism has barely picked up steam here.
You are, far and large, the loudest and most vocal of the critics. But I didn't say bloggers, BTW, I said Buddhists (I know a few in the flesh) that feel that the Big Three is too "pop" and that the transcedental aspects of Buddhism is largely unrepresented. Personally, I don't think they go deep enough into the Dharma so I don't tend to read them too often.
To answer the questions you brought up in your blog more aptly. I did not frame my discussion by race because Asian buddhists are represented in the West by both Convert and Culturally-Based Buddhists (a point you yourself stated). To say an Asian raised by Christian parents in Brooklyn who converts to Buddhism is the same as an Asian raised by Buddhist parents who moved to California would be incorrect. Both viewpoints and opinions would be vastly different and not framed by race but rather by experience.
I concede that most culturally-based Buddhists are Asian but to discount those Asians that are converts as well to discount the non-Asians that were raised culturally in the Buddhist faith would be inaccurate.
To my knowledge, I am not making any racial judgements in my post. But I am sure you will bring 'em up if I do. I am trying to state that Western Buddhism will be made up by Culturally-Based and Convert Buddhists (Asians and non-Asians will be represented on both sides).
Hope that clears it up. Thanks for your comments!
Cheers,
OH, and ps I deleted that site because I'm just tired and I'm going to take a long break from blogging. I need to focus on real life for now. :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that many contentions are an issue in Western Buddhism. Race is, of course, one of them (it rarely isn't an issue) but I don't see it as the primary one. I think it does fall into other arenas as well. My distinction between convert and cultural definately includes race but those races are distributed on both sides of that issue. Although I still grant that Asians do make up a large percentage of cultural Buddhists but they also make up a large percentage of convert Buddhists. So while both are Asian their viewpoints will differ as will every other race that fill in the ranks.
ReplyDeleteSo for me race is not a PRIMARY issue in the way I frame it. It is simply not the conversation I am attempting to have. I have limited experience with all-Asian congregation but of what I do have it has been positive. The large difference has been in the use of the Dharma. I suppose that framing it as Traditional/Fundmentalist vs. Reformist would be better and more inclusive terms to use. I will probably use them in the future.
@ Kyle
Sorry to hear that you erased the blog but I look forward to your projects and can understand the need for a brake. Real-life calls and doesn't wait for us to finish all of our tougue wagging.
Cheers,
Interesting writing. I'd like to hit a few points, based on my Buddhist training in various Zen Centers and Temples. I'll go point my Point.
ReplyDelete1. Gotama Buddha didn't discover-create or anything else Dharma. Dharma is not born and cannot perish. It simply is. It's even more than the fabric of time and space Itself. What Gotama Buddha did was See what Is "Here" all the time. It's kind of like having a room and You notice something that came built in with the house, but You simply never took notice.
2. Reformation may not be the most precise word that could be used. Buddhist practices seem to "harmonize," with the culture that It's brought to. We need to emphasize the work "Practices." Awakened Mind (Buddhism) is always the same, the practices in relation have the tendency to change, to merge/harmonize with the given culture.
The Bruce Lee expression on the TV commercial "Be like water," is appropriate. Since Buddhism is not about restriction of Mind, It easily harmonizes with what ever container It's place in. Hence easily merging with Confucianism, Taoism, even Christianity if You follow the words of Christ rather than the many and varied interpretations of what He expresses.
3. The expression "Dharma hasn't been established in the West," is not accurate. Dharma has always been here, noticing the essential truth is another matter all together. This could be due to the fact that our cultural roots are not very deep in this country. I tend to feel like we are a forest of young trees and over time, given proper nurturing our roots will deepen and limbs blossom, in the readiness of time.
4. The Western Convert Buddhist statement is interesting too. News media is not about unbiased presentation. It's a more of entertainment and attempts to figure out how to emotionally hook people, so that their viewership improves, which translates into somehow gaining more/better advertisers and improve the bottom line. News is about making money. Not about compassion, action, respect and empathy. That's why It's so weighted in the negative. It's an illusion and mere fragments about what we "think," we know.
5. You're expression on "Westernizing," pulls at an interesting point. Think of one aspect of Buddhist practice as like when we used to tape, music from radio shows. It was the music, that was indeed played, the the quality was poor. Because of how it was captured, some of the dynamics and quality were "lost in translation."
The true concern cold be directed towards the quality of the message transmitted. A great example is that in Japan, there are many Buddhist, but on a certain scale, it's a kind of "family," business. It's lost the initial freshness. In certain quarters, It's a little stale. My own teacher, Genjo Marinello Osho doesn't guide me towards "Maybe," kensho. It's a unswerving and progressive effort towards "full awakening." Anything aim for less that that target is settling. I recall the story of one of Bodhidharma's students that wanted Kensho so badly, he was willing to cut off his own arm. We on the other hand have trouble sitting consistently because we want to watch "Survivor, The Swan," or "Top Chef." Too funny.
In closing this response, I'd say remove the word Dharma and use the word "Practice." I feel like that's what You intended o say. If I'm wrong in this, I'm okay with that and still stand by the above statements. Critical thought/feeling is a good thing. As my teacher says, digest, combust, make compost of our experiences. It all helps us grow.
Your's In Dharma,
Jaye Seiho Morris
I'm so happy to have just read Jaye's articulate comments. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jaye!
ReplyDelete#1: I completely agree that the Dharma is distinct from the Buddha and greater. But he found it through meditation and understanding. We need to do the same. It is not found by saying that someone else's path is incorrect.
#2: Welllll? Lets face it, Buddhism is not always a shining jewel. Some bad stuff has gone down in Asia especially when a "state" religion is established. We do, however, have the chance to harmonize it in the West because Buddhism isn't established here. Yet we prefer to comment on the fact that one path is better than the other or that 3 lame magazines are unfair to Ethnic Buddhists. Which they are! Instead I read temple productions and newsletters. Much better Buddhism there.
#3 : Yes, my mistake. You are right.
#4 : Yes, which is why I rarely glance at the popular Buddhist periodicals.
#5: Yes, Buddhism is about striving. That is what the Buddha said when he found his spot under the Bodhi Tree. This is a good place to strive. A person well versed in Pali and the Buddhist scriptures should bow to the one that isn't well-versed but STRIVES.
On your last comment. There is much work for us to do on us as a culture. This is why I don't think we are even ready for the "full" Dharma. Right now we just need to slow our minds and sit for a bit.
Cheers Jaye! Your input is always welcomed
Gassho,
Jack
@Nathan
I know! Right? That guy can spin some Dharma. I owe him a mocha grande latte
Now, we need to make Jaye well known by the entire Buddhist community.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it takes two extreme's to have the middle way more clear to us.
Thank you very much for that Jaye, you are wise indeed.
But how do you know that YOU are not ready for "Full" kensho, when you don't know what It actually is? Last time I checked, you don't have a license to Psychic Friends Network, LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe "Asian," thing. Get past that. No East, North, South, West. One race, ALL human. Every culture has had a moment. Let's live that stuff down, So that we are inextricably anchored to our past failings. We will drown, if we don't cut the anchor.
You could actualize Your Full Buddha Nature. All we have to do is drop all the "B.S." mind.
Yours In Dharma,
Seiho