This is a good clear essay by deconstructionist Buddhist David Loy. It's a lot more developed than most excoriations of “Western Buddhism.” It exposes a common misconception about karma along the way. Buddhism showed up precisely to revolutionize the Hindu caste system. For Buddhism, karma is not an iron straightjacket. You can change it. There is some kind of freedom in every moment not to act as you've been conditioned.
Hmmm, I actually think Loy plays rather well into the critiques of 'Western Buddhism' offered by Zizek et al by claiming this is actually what Buddhism authentically is. He is basically claiming that Buddhism is precisely how Zizek says it is, indifferent to politics, insular and unsophicated.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if Loy manages to shake off the 19th century caricatures of Buddhism, despite being himself a practicing Zen Buddhist himself. Seems he still wants that classic 19th century portrait, from Weber onwards, influenced by Protestantism, that Buddhists are unworldly. What is interesting though is that he is harsh on the religious East making a compromise with power, but the religious West made much the same compromises with power and authority. And it was able to re-intialise some of Jesus' message viz poverty by claiming it was providential, even as it recommended charity - this is clear from the tension in the early church who believed property was inherently sinful and those who believed it offered an opportunity for the rich for salvation via charity. He doesn't mention Buddhist opposition to caste either - the Vasala Sutta for example.
Indeed, I think religion are intrinsically political...
Oh sure, he plays into the critiques. Almost anyone would, with that one-size-fits-all "critique" stuff. That wasn't my point.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the essay by Loy. The convergence between traditional and 'western' Buddhism he speaks about as opening fresh possibilities also offers us insights into radical intimacy. We need to get in close.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of this as perhaps a type of tantric union, a dynamic dissolution of both traditional and 'western' Buddhism that might leave us with something that is beyond the binary oppositions and paradoxes inherent in inner versus outer frames.
As Loy suggests Buddhism and the West need each other to complete themselves.The completion not only offers hope it offers a praxis that is radically intimate and reveals the interconnectivity of existing. My freedom, peace, safety is connected to your and theirs whoever they are.
Western Buddhism need not be the fetish Zizek proposes, the existential balm that allows 'Western' Buddhists to remain calm and serene, while being fully aware of the massive and violent injustices perpetrated by systems, capitalism, sham democracy for example, that they comply with.
The hope is in the activity this union might unleash.Rebellion as unconditional unbounded love.
A new religiosity flows in the mesh.