Call for a new Buddhism

[Guest guest]

Call For a New Buddhism

 

" Intelligence is the ability to ascertain the essential. " - Jiddu

Krishnamurti

 

CC: Who and what is a Buddhist?

 

Historians tell us that Siddhartha Gautama (563? to 483? BC) was

the founder of the organized religion we call Buddhism. The

fundamental meaning of the word 'Buddha' is 'Enlightened One.' We know

that there were many enlightened ones, many Buddhas, before Siddhartha

Gautama's birth and there have been many Buddhas after Siddhartha's

death. The historic Buddha was born a Hindu and the evidence suggests

Siddhartha wished to reform Hinduism rather than reject it completely.

Siddhartha Gautama died a Hindu, not a Buddhist, just as Jesus died a

Jew, not a Christian.

 

What we call Buddhism today is an amalgamation of the true

teachings of Siddhartha combined with invented myths and large amounts

of culture derived from the country in which the Buddhism is practiced.

Tibetan Buddhism, for example, is as much Tibetanism as it is

Buddhism. Buddha's words were handed down for several centuries

through oral tradition before a committee was formed to commit the

communal heritage, not memory, of Buddha's teaching to written text.

No human being who actually met the Buddha wrote any of the famous

Buddhist scriptures that present day followers take so literally and

seriously.

 

Can we separate the essential teachings of the many enlightened

ones, the many Buddhas, from mere tradition? Can we bring Buddhism up

to date by keeping the essential tools of enlightenment, while

discarding the cultural biases that burden the path with unnecessary

obstacles? I believe we can create a new Buddhism if we consciously

analyze our situation as present day seekers of truth. With this most

fundamental definition of the word 'Buddhism,' anyone who seeks

enlightenment can be called a Buddhist.

 

Is Buddhism pro-family?

 

P: No, it can't be. The ultimate aim

of Buddhism is to stop the wheel of

re-birth. This, of course, means having

no children. With modern contraceptive

methods this is not in conflict with sexual

pleasure.

 

CC: Extreme Buddhism and self-defense

 

Some, but not all Buddhist circles have a politically correct

insistence on absolute nonviolence. Tibet had no effective army to

fight off the Chinese invasion of 1950. The less politically correct

and more pragmatic Nepalese fought off Chinese incursions with ease.

The Nepalese Gurkha fighters have a reputation for being among the

bravest soldiers in the world. Tibet is enslaved and Nepal is free

because Tibetan Buddhism went too far in the direction of extreme

philosophical purity. Idealism is a form of mental opium. It may feel

good for a short while, but the long term effects can be disastrous. I

do not call for war mongering or aggressive behavior toward one's

neighbors. I do call for a strong sense that self-defense is normal,

natural, and a basic necessity of life. Every animal on this planet

has some form of defense mechanism, and human beings should have many

layers of defense to protect ourselves, our families, and our society.

Having an army is not evil, it is just good common sense.

 

P: How could Buddhism be pro self- defense if

it's not pro self, and doesn't even believe in

a self? Since self is the root of suffering why

should it be defended? This, of course, doesn't

mean that we shouldn't try to stop others from

inflicting suffering.

 

CC:What is relevant in Buddhism?

 

Over the centuries Buddhism has collected a great deal of hocus

pocus and excess baggage. Meditation is not a very complicated affair.

It takes time, patience, and whole hearted commitment, but it is not

intellectually difficult. Meditation is a gentle and loving step

beyond the mind, not a complicated new philosophy that the mind must

learn.

I have met people who think that by learning to speak Tibetan,

Japanese, or Sanskrit they will somehow become more spiritual. The

cosmic blank page does not care about your language. The Void simply

exists and is available to anyone who is open enough to perceive it.

Frankly, Buddhism and all the other religions of the world have become,

in large part, just nonsense. People are given the impression that if

they become enlightened they will have spiritual thoughts and will be

talking to deities and angels. A safer bet is that when you become

enlightened, you will become totally silent inside. You will be able

to think or not think, turning the thinking part of your mind on and

off like a radio.

 

I have met people who think that by learning to speak Tibetan,

Japanese, or Sanskrit they will somehow become more spiritual. The

cosmic blank page does not care about your language. The Void simply

exists and is available to anyone who is open enough to perceive it.

Frankly, Buddhism and all the other religions of the world have become,

in large part, just nonsense. People are given the impression that if

they become enlightened they will have spiritual thoughts and will be

talking to deities and angels. A safer bet is that when you become

enlightened, you will become totally silent inside. You will be able

to think or not think, turning the thinking part of your mind on and

off like a radio.

 

Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment. A

positive attitude is also needed to overcome suffering, and dwelling on

all the potential miseries of life only amplifies suffering.

 

To suppress suffering, Buddha recommended the Noble Eightfold

Path, which consists of right views, right intention, right speech,

right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and

right contemplation. What are right views? Is a theocracy of Buddhist

priests going to dictate to the sangha (monastic community) how to

think and what to say? Intense meditation is needed by all, but the

difficulties of determining what is " right action " and " right speech "

is fraught with dangers. Was it " right action " for Tibet to fail to

develop an effective military with which to fight off an obvious

Chinese threat? What brilliant monk dictated that " right action " to

the sheep like sangha?

 

P: I have no problem with the above as excerpted.