Why so few Western Buddhists?

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chownah
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by chownah »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:53 pm For Westerners to slow way, way down and find time to meditate regularily, etc., en masse, is like asking a pack of monkeys not to climb trees any longer. A subtle lifestyle concept like "ending bhava", (or as the Taoists would say, "Wu Wei") is not something Westerners will appreciate any time soon.
I think the same thing is true of thai people......and they are buddhist.
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No_Mind
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:53 pm So this gives me confidence that India knows how to slow their lives down, as examples are seen of this in the Sadhu culture.
I would not go as far as to say that Indians know how to slow down their life .. but .. we are taught from childhood (or children were taught when I was a kid) to let 'it' go .. that nothing except good character and health is worth clinging to .. that at end of the day this is where we are headed .. into flames

warning .. do not watch if you are sensitive



Note the lack of dignity with which the corpse is handled in its final few minutes before it heads into the incinerator. It has no value, so no dignity is needed to be shown in its final moments. The body is burned as soon as humanly possible .. usually within 6-9 hours. In case offspring lives abroad .. that is delayed to 2-3 days. On the other hand the homage to the departed soul called Sraddha is very dignified and respectful.

And we are taught to internalize this image by age of ten (or we were taught to internalize it by age of ten .. cannot speak for today's snowflakes).

This body .. the one being burnt was once a zygote which became a foetus which became an infant who grew up to be an adult .. ate food, passed excreta, felt lust, enjoyed sex, loved parents, siblings, friends, kissed his lover .. loved to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat, eat meat curry, cried when he was hurt, laughed when he got his first job.

and it is dead .. taking all of its desires and mental proliferations with it .. nothing survives except Pancha Bhuta - Kshiti (Earth as ashes), Ap (Water as vapour), Tej (Energy as flames), Marut (Gas), Byom (Space)

All its needs, desires has ended .. and no matter if I am (or if we are) a vagabond without a penny or the wealthiest billionaire in Mumbai we are within next few decades headed towards the same fate, the same gate of flames will greet us at end.

:namaste:

No_Mind
Last edited by No_Mind on Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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cappuccino
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by cappuccino »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:55 pmand it is dead .. taking all of its desires with it .. nothing survives
Annihilation?
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No_Mind
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

cappuccino wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:22 pm
No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:55 pmand it is dead .. taking all of its desires with it .. nothing survives
Annihilation?
The body .. yes. Any doubts? Do you have pet zombies on a leash like Michonne :?



:namaste:

No_Mind
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
Saengnapha
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Saengnapha »

binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:26 am
Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:33 amHere in Bangkok, no one ever asks me if I'm a Buddhist or what I practice. I cannot remember a single instance. My own practice is private. Who would know what I believe just by looking at me? I don't wear an orange robe. I don't go to a Wat, either. If I lived in Berlin, it would be the same practice for me even if there were no Wats or orange robes walking the streets.
But you probably don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, don't mindlessly swat mosquitoes, have a limited range of emotional expressions (little or no anger, just the four brahamaviharas), don't swear, don't gossip, and more. Other people probably notice those things, and there may be social situations where they ask you about them. For example, where I live, it is outrageous not to drink alcohol, and people expect, sometimes even demand an explanation, or else, questions follow -- "Are you pregnant? ... Are you a recovered alcoholic? ... Was someone in your family alcoholic? ... Do you take some heavy medications? ..." It's really tedious. And it limits my social interactions with others. I imagine the same wouldn't happen if I lived in a traditionally Buddhist country.
However, living my daily life here in BKK, is very different than living my life in Berlin, N.Y., or even India, for that matter. SE Asia has its own flavor and feeling. That is one of the reasons I like living here. It's very conducive to my current circumstances on a day to day level.
Yes ... it does make a difference where one lives.
You make some interesting observations. Perhaps if I were younger and a more social person, I would come into contact with more of the types of people you are talking about. But, otoh, this is why I am not as socially minded as I once was. Westerners, especially Europeans, tend to drink quite a bit. Somehow drinking is tied into their fabric of life. SE Asia and India are not like that outside of the expat groups. But, drinking is prevalent in Japanese and Korean cultures as well as Tibetan.
Meezer77
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

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Subharo wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:35 pm
SarathW wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2018 9:14 pm
Bundokji wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2018 2:08 pm I think it has to do with the western understanding of freedom which radically differs from the freedom gained by practicing Buddhism.
I have seen this is a big problem even for the Western Buddhist converts.
They interpret Buddhism in light of their old belief system.
SarathW, if by saying "old belief system", you mean "the freedom to use critical thinking whatsoever at any time", then I agree with you: Westerners indeed have a hard time letting go of their "old belief system." And that freedom was very hard won. It's a freedom Westerners are not eager to lose.

No Mind, here is a counter-question for you to ponder (which perhaps will give you a Satori into an answer to your OP):
In Eastern culture, why is critical thinking, and frank debate in a gentlemanly tone of voice, so taboo, especially when people (who are elders) are clearly talking crap (and take great liberty doing so, knowing very well they can get away with it all they want, pretty much)?
Interested in what you mean by "critical thinking ". Doesn't everyone regardless of where they're from need this to survive? I'd feel very vulnerable if I had to give this up. Perhaps I'm being too literal, could you please explain or give examples
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

Meezer77 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:50 pm Interested in what you mean by "critical thinking ". ... I'd feel very vulnerable if I had to give this up. Perhaps I'm being too literal, could you please explain or give examples
Here's a prime example.
Meezer77 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:50 pm Doesn't everyone regardless of where they're from need this to survive?
Ironically, sometimes you need to withhold the use of critical thinking in order to survive (as in situations where you cannot get away with using it, without the consequence of indirect-yet-virtually-certain punishment).
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Meezer77 »

Subharo wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:12 am
Meezer77 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:50 pm Interested in what you mean by "critical thinking ". ... I'd feel very vulnerable if I had to give this up. Perhaps I'm being too literal, could you please explain or give examples
Here's a prime example.
Meezer77 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:50 pm Doesn't everyone regardless of where they're from need this to survive?
Ironically, sometimes you need to withhold the use of critical thinking in order to survive (as in situations where you cannot get away with using it, without the consequence of indirect-yet-virtually-certain punishment).
Oh I get that at work all the time. Having to bite my tongue and what not. I can still "think" critically though. Bhante, seems like you're feeling really oppressed. What do you reckon are the redeeming things that keep you in robes?
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Subharo
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

Meezer77 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:29 am Bhante, seems like you're feeling really oppressed. What do you reckon are the redeeming things that keep you in robes?
It's getting less and less oppressive all the time. Actually, I've never been happier. These posts are more like a public service announcement, so that others can watch out for the tricks before they get played. With any luck, these tricks will get used less and less, **which I feel is an essential ingredient to Buddhism actually spreading more in the west**. So this grumbling does have have a higher purpose, which is a more transparent Buddhism in the future (and I feel Westerners crucially need transparency in order to trust Buddhism).

My meditation is going quite well these days (but please don't ask me to attest to any sort of attainments). These days, it's easily reward enough just to meditate, or even to simply be mindful of my current object of meditation for all of about 5 seconds. That's what's keeping me in the robes. Also, please don't ask me what my object of meditation is. The particulars of my practice is something I try to keep private.

On the subject of transparency, take a look at how "transparent" Westerner countries tend to be, as compared to how "transparent" traditional Buddhist countries tend to be. Now perhaps you can see what I'm getting at?

@No_Mind, can you see how I'm attempting to answer your question in a constructive, yet deeply-uncomfortable-to-some way?
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

Meezer77 wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:50 pm Doesn't everyone regardless of where they're from need this to survive?
Clearly these people don't. They have given up critical thinking entirely.

The Flat Earth International Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, attracted hundreds of attendees who believe the shape of the Earth is a disc instead of a sphere.



And neither do people who believe in caste based discrimination as some do in India and also (surprise, surprise) in Japan.

Do you know in Japan a grown man wanting to have sex with a young girl (about ten year old) is considered a normal urge? Until 2014 child pornography was legal to own in Japan. Is that critical thinking?

There are examples from every place on earth .. when people suspended critical thinking .. Brexit for example.

:namaste:

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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

Indeed there is no one country or culture who owns the patent on idiocy.
Subharo Bhikkhu
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chownah
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by chownah »

Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:24 pm Somehow drinking is tied into their fabric of life. SE Asia and India are not like that outside of the expat groups.
You couldn't be more wrong.....I'm not wanting to be offensive and I am not dealing in hyperbole but with regard to thailand you couldn't be more wrong. Drinking alcohol is culturally virtuous in thailand.....without a doubt....
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Chownah,
chownah wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:33 am Drinking alcohol is culturally virtuous in thailand.....without a doubt....
Just curious... is there any 'peer pressure' not to drink, in light of the five precepts?

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

chownah wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:33 am
Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:24 pm Somehow drinking is tied into their fabric of life. SE Asia and India are not like that outside of the expat groups.
You couldn't be more wrong.....I'm not wanting to be offensive and I am not dealing in hyperbole but with regard to thailand you couldn't be more wrong. Drinking alcohol is culturally virtuous in thailand.....without a doubt....
chownah
Have to agree with chownah (imagine that!!)

India is world's largest producer and consumer of whiskey at 1780 million liters. Sum total of other liquor varities - rum, vodka, gin, brandy - must be equal or near to that and country liquor (moonshine) must then be at least ten times more .. making us one of the drunkest nations on the planet.

I am an ex-alcoholic as I have described elsewhere.

But oddly enough it is frowned on by society. God help a school teacher who is found buying alcohol. It is banned in several states (with strict jail time for bootlegging) but at same time it is not a secret behaviour.

Unfortunately for those who frown (mostly orthodox Hindus from cow belt) .. they are not backed up by religion .. Indian deities like to imbibe "somras"(some type of intoxicant)

and 14% are Muslims who are not supposed to drink at all.

Very schizophrenic attitude to drinking is found.

:namaste:

No_Mind
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
Saengnapha
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Saengnapha »

chownah wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:33 am
Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:24 pm Somehow drinking is tied into their fabric of life. SE Asia and India are not like that outside of the expat groups.
You couldn't be more wrong.....I'm not wanting to be offensive and I am not dealing in hyperbole but with regard to thailand you couldn't be more wrong. Drinking alcohol is culturally virtuous in thailand.....without a doubt....
chownah
I guess I need to get out more. :shrug:
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