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Religion and Politics
Yes, I know it’s an old argument–whether our religious organizations should be preaching politics from the pulpit — or in my case, speaking politics to the sangha. As a Zen Buddhist, I’ve become increasingly distressed at the dominance of the left in almost all Buddhist communities. For many years I belonged to a Zen community (sangha) that was guided by the belief that participants ought to decide, from their own research, values, and discussions (outside the community) what they believed in and supported. But in the last ten years, leading Buddhists and lesser ones have moved from subtle support of the left to blatantly stating their leftist views, leaving out the segment of conservatives (however small) of their communities. So much for “we are all one.” Choose any leftist cause — climate change, gay marriage — it’s supported in mainstream Buddhist publications. I finally left the larger Buddhist community (and lead my own meditation group), but still consider myself a Zen Buddhist. Of course, when I tell Buddhists about my decision, they assume I support “Japanese Zen” so they think I must believe, for example, in treating women as second class citizens. Even though their assumptions are wrong, I guess my holding to the Buddha’s original teachings makes me a “fundamentalist Buddhist.” So be it.
Has anyone else thrown up their hands and abandoned their religious communities because they just couldn’t take the propaganda of the left anymore? How’s that worked out for you? Do you still consider yourself a practitioner of your religion? I’d love to hear from you.
Susan the Buju
Published in General, Religion & Philosophy
It’s easy for many Buddhists to overlook the fact that Shakyamuni Buddha taught for 45 years after he attained enlightenment; that’s a longer span of time than his life prior to enlightenment. Gaining wisdom is only the first part, and it’s the smallest. Using that wisdom to bring up others and make the world better is the bigger task that follows.
I know you miss your friends, but maybe we can alleviate that loss somewhat by building a tiny little Ricochet sangha. It’s a small idea, but great things grow from the smallest seeds.
Gassho!
Christians and Jews are united in not wanting to go “to the other place…”
Hey, Casey, you might just have something there!
Unlike Casey, I know very few Buddhists born into the tradition; most I know are attracted to the what has become a leftist tradition.
Another take on Buddhist and muslims.
http://www.inquiryintoislam.com/2015/10/popular-buddhist-monk-accuses-muslims.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ANon-racistUnbigotedInquiryIntoIslam+%28An+Inquiry+Into+Islam%29
Most Asian Americans vote left, too.
I’m not sure that that’s a very different take. The first take was “there’s a lunatic bigot inciting violence against a small, peaceful, and already oppressed Muslim minority in Burma”. This has a photo, but does not otherwise change the story, so far as I can tell; it’s a partial description, since his worst moments are when he describes the Rohingya as “invaders”, but you can get a flavor of his degree of reasonableness by noting the concern that a mostly rural and illiterate tiny minority (4%, roughly) is trying to take over the country.
There are places where indigenous Islamic groups really do cause trouble and concern is justified, but Burma is not one of those places. The Rohningya work hard to oppose not just AQ fundraising off them, but essentially any foreign Islamic interest or help whatsoever on the basis that it would only lead to further persecution. The only lobbyists I’ve ever met begging to be given less free money were Rohingya.
It’s a 60 minutes special making the muslims the victims, as usual. Lord forbid that the Buddhist is on top of the muslim game and isn’t going to give an inch. More power to him.
The Muslims in Burma really are victims. What other term do you think could apply? Does it seem plausible to you that they’re trying to take over Burma? What is the argument for their non-victimhood that does not rely on generalizations about Muslims being awful, but applies specifically to the Rohingya?
It’s like a delicate exotic fruit.
As a long time reader of Tricycle magazine I have noticed that the articles have become more leftist although not overtly political. Many articles speak of climate change as a major concern and others are consciously anti-capitalist. These positions are related to, if not required by, Buddhist tenets. “Codependent origination” is in harmony with ecological views of interdependency and it is no great leap to an environmentalism that is not interested in balancing costs and benefits. Likewise, teachings of non-attachment leads to a condemnation of greed which (somehow) leads to a rejection of capitalism. My feeling is that the Buddhist opponents of global warming and capitalism start from a leftist ideology and use Buddhism to justify their positions rather than start from Buddhist beliefs and arrive at leftist positions. I have yet to see a Tricycle article acknowledge that fossil fuels and capitalism are the means by which the lives of billions of people have been improved. Environmental degradation and greed are problems, but they can be addresses by, what in Christian terms are, thoughtful stewardship and being “in, but not of, the world.”
I agree with you, James. It’s easy to condemn all Muslims, but the nature of Islam, all its various forms and beliefs, make it so difficult to filter out the radicals and the moderates. But in Burma, I think it’s clear that the Muslims there are unjustly threatened. It’s not acceptable to fight them out of fear of what might happen. Especially when you’re a Buddhist monk.
I haven’t been following these developments that closely, Zafar. This information is really terrifying!
You are so right on, Rick! I recently cancelled my subscription to the Shambhala Sun. They had a long list of interviews of all the alternative lifestyles–I’ve lost track of all the initials they use. I expect to occasionally see an article I don’t agree with, but it was getting ridiculous. The leftist topics in this magazine and in Tricycle are so discouraging for me. I will probably cancel Tricycle, too. Both magazines only speak of conservative Buddhist values in the abstract, so they are vague and non-political. It’s too bad for Buddhists and sad for the world. I still like Casey’s suggestion (if he was serious) that we conservative Buddhists somehow link up.
It’s the coastal thing. A Buddhist magazine published in Tulsa by people who lived and practiced there would completely change the dynamic in our intrareligious dialogue.
And of course I’m serious! This site is saturated with Christian conversation, often rancorous, and almost never germane to the thread in which those conversations arise. Having our own dedicated thing might be a bit of a respite from that. And I’m always curious about the paths of others, so I could selfishly get that itch scratched. Let’s do it!
Hi Casey, I don’t think I was entirely clear. I’m not looking to have a “Buddhist discussion group” as a substitute for writing or commenting on ricochet (and maybe that’s not what you’re saying). Maybe I haven’t been reading it long enough, but I think the side comments can also be interesting and funny and provide a light moment when things get heavy. But I also miss the chance to discuss sometimes conservative ideas in a Buddhist context. How does that suit your wishes? And Rick, if you’re reading, how about you?
If you did this on Ricochet I’d follow the conversation with interest. It might be enlightening for many of us non-Buddhists.
Me too. I find the discussions among Ricochet’s Jews and Christians fascinating. I’m sure I’d find your discussions very interesting, too. It’s a source of sadness to me that Ricochet originally had at least one Muslim member who joined to discuss conservative ideas in a cordial setting, but he didn’t feel welcome here. I wish we’d managed to keep him.
I’m fascinated by other peoples’ religious beliefs, and like the way that members of Ricochet are very open about theirs, given that asking what other people believe about God is usually considered, in American culture, to be excessively personal. Yet what could be more interesting to talk about?
I’d love to eavesdrop on your conversations about Buddhism, and maybe even ask questions.
Now there’s a thought, Zafar. Maybe a place to start are the misconceptions about Buddhism, by Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Maybe an “Ask the Conservative Buddha” –not meaning me, since I’m definitely not an expert, even after all these years! Then again, the Buddha would say we’re all Buddhas (which means enlightened one), we just don’t know it!
I’m with Zafar and Claire. It could be le Pit de Buddha or some such. Look, I host the swimming thread. The ChixPit stays pretty sane. And there is the Divine Help thread, too. With Claire following it, any militant Christians, Jews or Zoroastrians will be handled in short order. (Links added so you can see how we’ve done it.) Go for it!
I’d also like to see this.
Wow! I had no idea! And feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. It was awesome enough to put up this post and then have it make the main feed, but I was daring (foolish?) enough to put up a second and it made the main feed, too. I’m very excited about this idea, but am going on a personal retreat week after this one and will be out of touch. I’d love more suggestions on how to do this, so I may send you and Claire a personal message or two in the meantime. I don’t want it to be a “job” but just great fun and an opportunity to share and learn. Thanks so much, MLH!
All meal final! No substitution!
Haha. The fault’s all mine, I didn’t present an idea very well. We should of course not deprive the rest of the Ricochetti of our sparkling insights. Rather, we could create a semi-permanent thread or threads wherein we could discuss our various traditions, how they inform our politics, etc. We could broaden that in order to teach each other about the Zen schools, Pure Land, Vajrayana, et al. What we believe, why we do so, and how we practice, I guess. Sound good?
Sounds great! I would suggest that if we speak about various traditions, we speak to those we follow; I think sharing personal experiences are so helpful, especially since the different Buddhist traditions have more in common than have differences. And then when talking about the differences, maybe bring the discussion full circle to how they help/hinder us in living out our conservative values.
Most excellent. Now we have to figure the best way forward.
The Middle Way, of course!
Send me a PM when you get back from your retreat. I should have some ideas by then. Have fun!
I’m a little late to this… Welcome, Susan. I like the religious threads, though I don’t always comment. I learn a lot.
I left a congregation (but not the faith) after a particularly noisome disquisition on how the Israelis were the primary obstacle to peace in the Middle East. This was the last straw for me. More and more political content was creeping into and obscuring the message, and having left all that behind upon rediscovering my faith, I perhaps didn’t show sufficient patience.
Or maybe I did; I didn’t kick the dust from my sandals on my way out, so there’s that.
I don’t know what Orthodoxy does right, but I’ve never heard a particularly political sermon in an Orthodox church.
James, that was the first one that I had ever heard there. It was not just that I vehemently disagreed, it was the inappropriateness of the message.
Thanks, Percival and James. I realized after I began this post that I wasn’t clear about the issue for me. And you touched on it, Percival. The Buddhist community-at large has become blatant about its politics, but I was also frustrated about their inability or unwillingness to recognize how many of their ideas were leftist. They assumed that a lot of their ideas were mainstream! There might be a “conservative” sangha (community) out there, but I’m not willing to search for it. Thank goodness for my little meditation group!