Eastern/Western Buddhism
Faith and Philosophy
| February 28, 2006
| Tim
Anyone who's ever delved a bit into Asian history soon discovers that Western versions of Buddhism are often at odds with the real beast. One of my favorite illustrations of this disconnect comes, if you'll permit, from an angry Amazon review of The Foundations of Buddhism by Rupert Gethin:
The WORST book on this subject EVER (one star rating)
This autor [sic] is writing about some other religion. Its [sic] the only explanation. Not one thing he says in the first 20 pages is factually correct. I stopped reading shortly after he says "The Gods gathered on the day the Buddha achieved enlightenment as if they knew something important was going to happen". All I could think was, "what gods?", because there are no gods in Buddhism. The very idea of a God or Gods goes against everything the Buddha ever taught...
This reviewer knows absolutely nothing: Kalachakra Tantra (Tibetan) Buddhism, for example, is chockablok with gods, demons, and other spiritual critters. But he has been taught an "American" version of the faith.
Another reviewer responds to him with my own view:
Most of us learn about Buddhism through Westernized versions which conceal those aspects not in accord with our own cultures dominant beliefs. Buddhists did believe in gods, thought it was not obligatory. The idea of an atheistic Buddhism is a Western construction.
So why the mutation?
A recent comment by Varenius reminded me of a link I should post to one of his articles, "Traditional Buddhism... Or Just Theosophy?":
... the Western perception of Asian religious traditions has often had less to do with what is "actually there" than with the desire of certain Westerners to have a foil against which they can unfavorably compare their own culture, particularly its Christianity.
Similar to the way in which Osama bin Laden has begun to channel Michael Moore lately, so also do these interpretations end up getting seeded back into Eastern culture, where they are then sometimes adopted as the 'authentic' views -- despite being quite inauthentic. In his article, Varenius cites examples. Read it.
Thanks for the link, Tim. Guess I'd better start blogging there again now! :-)
The first review is absolutely priceless! I seriously wonder where that guy learned about Buddhism. Not only do you find gods of the traditional sort, but also the multitude of Buddhas (past and future) who are practically divine. Add to that demons, Titan-like beings, "hungry ghosts", etc., not to mention all sorts of fantastical cosmologies and prophecies. Of course not every form of Buddhism emphasizes these things, but they are essential to the practice of the vast majority of Buddhists across Asia. But how many New Agers have the faintest idea of this?
The Dalai Lama probably had these people in mind when he said that Westerners would be better off sticking with their own culture's religious traditions rather than running after Eastern ones.
I seriously wonder where that guy learned about Buddhism.
He recommended people read, instead, What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula.
The Dalai Lama probably had these people in mind when he said that Westerners would be better off sticking with their own culture's religious traditions rather than running after Eastern ones.
The Dalai Lama was apparently lying through his teeth when he said this. He's fond of saying things like religions shouldn't seek to convert others, each should remain in their own tradition, blah, blah, blah...
But then he does stuff like this:
The Dalai Lama wrapped up more than ten days of public appearances in Toronto today by completing the initiation of thousands of devotees into the spiritual teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.
About 7,000 people, including dozens of robe-clad monks, attended the ceremony marked by prayers, chants and teachings from the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama has initiated more people into Tibetan Buddhism than any of his predecessors before him. So it appears he's simply trying to disable his opponents rhetorically, to give him more room to operate. Upaya.
And of course, almost none of these people understand that "death to self" doesn't mean what they think it means in the west, or generally have any idea what they're really getting into.
Tell me more about "hungry ghosts."
The Dalai Lama was apparently lying through his teeth when he said this.
Well, "lying" is perhaps putting it a bit too strongly. He probably is being truthful to some extent, but simply left out "...but we'll still welcome anyone interested with open arms regardless" which I suspect is the full story.
Tell me more about "hungry ghosts."
It's a bit difficult to generalize about them since they vary from country to country, but here's the basic idea: They are lost souls who indulged their appetites in life, and in punishment must spend the afterlife wandering the world while being consumed by bodily desires (primarily for food) that they are unable to sate more than slightly. In some cases, they are cursed with being able to eat but having an overwhelming urge to eat only disgusting and degrading things such as sewage. They seem to be looked upon with a mix of pity and fear, and it is considered compassionate to put out food for them and/or pray that they learn their lesson and are released to reincarnate in a better form.
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Thanks for the link, Tim. Guess I'd better start blogging there again now! :-)
The first review is absolutely priceless! I seriously wonder where that guy learned about Buddhism. Not only do you find gods of the traditional sort, but also the multitude of Buddhas (past and future) who are practically divine. Add to that demons, Titan-like beings, "hungry ghosts", etc., not to mention all sorts of fantastical cosmologies and prophecies. Of course not every form of Buddhism emphasizes these things, but they are essential to the practice of the vast majority of Buddhists across Asia. But how many New Agers have the faintest idea of this?
The Dalai Lama probably had these people in mind when he said that Westerners would be better off sticking with their own culture's religious traditions rather than running after Eastern ones.
Posted by: Varenius on March 2, 2006 03:51 PM