tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post2174292240840603939..comments2024-03-09T19:23:22.482-03:00Comments on The RPGPundit: "Ancient Buddhism": as Invented by Victorians and Ex-HippiesRPGPundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17267330191433119298noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-72320158343576861202016-01-03T18:26:10.959-03:002016-01-03T18:26:10.959-03:00You would probably be interested in Thanissaro Bhi...You would probably be interested in Thanissaro Bhikkhu's book _Buddhist Romanticism_. Thanissaro convincingly argues that Western Buddhists have generally interpreted Buddhism through the lens of German Romanticism. In practice Buddhist Romanticism often overlaps with Buddhist Modernism, but conceptually they are distinct and Thanissaro's work is a major contribution to our understanding of the way Buddhist texts and teachings have been (mis-)read in the West.<br /><br />http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/BuddhistRomanticism151231.pdf<br /><br />In general, I have found Thanissaro's talks and treatises to be an eye-opening introduction to authentic Buddhism--as opposed to the Buddhism that is taught by the followers of the Vipassana / Mindfulness movement. His website is www.dhammatalks.orgJon Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15483110614579754014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-72240360160796807422014-12-30T15:29:53.014-03:002014-12-30T15:29:53.014-03:00Technically, the Dalai Lama IS responsible for wha...Technically, the Dalai Lama IS responsible for what his predecessors did, since he WAS THEM.<br /><br />Mind you, in most of his past incarnations the D.L. died in infancy, often intentionally murdered by Gelug monks who wanted to keep up an eternal regency. The last D.L. incarnation before this current one only avoided dying as a kid because he literally fled the country; he had to escape his own people who were trying to kill him to hold onto their political power.RPGPundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267330191433119298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-68746399847858953492014-12-30T05:05:32.424-03:002014-12-30T05:05:32.424-03:00Of course there is also the fact that many of the ...Of course there is also the fact that many of the "free Tibet" crowd so enamored with what they think is "Tibetan Buddhism" ignore, or are ignorant to, the horrific and tyrannical nature of Tibet prior to the Chinese conquest, which was as bad, or worse, than any atrocity committed by modern China in Tibet - a medieval regime based on slavery and misogyny of the worst kind. The Dalai Lama might not be responsible for what his predecessors did, but he represents a regime which was built on the back of slaves.<br /><br />So yes, Tibet should definitely be freed from Chinese imperialism, but it deserves a secular, democratic and independent government under modernist values, not a return to the "nostalgic past" of medieval despotism.Omer Golan-Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242085820257230639noreply@blogger.com