"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Sorry, Smitty, but your analogy is skewed. I have studied Zen Buddhism for some forty years now, so please don't mischaracterize its basic tenets to make a political point. It is not the life-denying doctrine of your understanding.
Progressivism is nothing like Buddhism in any form. Progressivism in its modern form is nothing but collectivism, a European romanticization of the "Noble Savage" tribal idea.
That said, I wouldn't characterize what the Democrats are doing as even that benign, but ignorant, worldview. What's happening among the powerful in Washington now is sheer, brutal, power-grabbing, without a shred of care for the opinions or the wellbeing of the populace.
Original Pali meaning of Nirvana (Nibbana) is thought to be 'Extinguishing the flame' as in the 'flames' of lust greed and anger' which cause suffering. Even in Buddha's time people asked him if this meant total annihilation, and there was some ambiguity in his various answers. (I've been studying the Pali Suttas if you must know)
That said, Zen/Chan is practically Pantheist in its embrace of Nature and Life, and modern understanding of Nirvana is so close to Christian 'Die to Live' that I know Catholics who follow both (Smitty will not be surprised at this! Also they are led by Jesuits, well of course).
But RebaccaH we should not ignore the unpleasant things about Zen encouraging self-sacrifice for the emperor in WWII revealed by Brian Victoria's 'Zen at War'. Did you know that the Kamikaze memorial in Japan (whatever it's called) is dominated by a statue of goddess Kuanyin/Kannon?
Post WWII American Zen is different to pre WWII. In that sense Smitty is more correct than he knows.
Paco you can't offend Buddha. I say jokes are welcome. Zen says 'if you meet Buddha kill him', Theravadins reply 'he's already dead'.
@RebeccaH, Thank you for correcting my statement. Please amend my "a little bit like", to "bears a superficial resemblance that would be erroneous if put into words". I had no intention of raising hackles with that one. Peace, Chris
Progressivism is a little bit like Zen Buddhism, I think.
ReplyDeleteThe former wants you to eliminate yourself for the State, the latter for Nirvana.
Sorry, Smitty, but your analogy is skewed. I have studied Zen Buddhism for some forty years now, so please don't mischaracterize its basic tenets to make a political point. It is not the life-denying doctrine of your understanding.
ReplyDeleteProgressivism is nothing like Buddhism in any form. Progressivism in its modern form is nothing but collectivism, a European romanticization of the "Noble Savage" tribal idea.
That said, I wouldn't characterize what the Democrats are doing as even that benign, but ignorant, worldview. What's happening among the powerful in Washington now is sheer, brutal, power-grabbing, without a shred of care for the opinions or the wellbeing of the populace.
And, no, it's not over.
Takes handkerchief out of pocket and wipes forehead in relief at foregoing earlier temptation to make Buddha joke
ReplyDeleteOriginal Pali meaning of Nirvana (Nibbana) is thought to be 'Extinguishing the flame' as in the 'flames' of lust greed and anger' which cause suffering. Even in Buddha's time people asked him if this meant total annihilation, and there was some ambiguity in his various answers. (I've been studying the Pali Suttas if you must know)
ReplyDeleteThat said, Zen/Chan is practically Pantheist in its embrace of Nature and Life, and modern understanding of Nirvana is so close to Christian 'Die to Live' that I know Catholics who follow both (Smitty will not be surprised at this! Also they are led by Jesuits, well of course).
But RebaccaH we should not ignore the unpleasant things about Zen encouraging self-sacrifice for the emperor in WWII revealed by Brian Victoria's 'Zen at War'. Did you know that the Kamikaze memorial in Japan (whatever it's called) is dominated by a statue of goddess Kuanyin/Kannon?
Post WWII American Zen is different to pre WWII. In that sense Smitty is more correct than he knows.
Paco you can't offend Buddha. I say jokes are welcome. Zen says 'if you meet Buddha kill him', Theravadins reply 'he's already dead'.
Buddhists hit really, really hard, when they aren't being all peaceful and stuff.
ReplyDeleteDon't argue with them if you can help it.
When they get serious, they MEAN it.
God, save us from vengeful Buddhists.
Seriously.
Mike_W
@RebeccaH,
ReplyDeleteThank you for correcting my statement.
Please amend my "a little bit like", to "bears a superficial resemblance that would be erroneous if put into words".
I had no intention of raising hackles with that one.
Peace,
Chris
"If you meet the Buddha in the road, shtick him." What could go wrong?
ReplyDeletePaco, stealing that quote about Errol Flynn to rag on Democrats in an insult to unreliable drunken jailbait fornicators everywhere...
ReplyDeleteSmitty, look up "yamahoshi" and "yamabushi". Then go be very very nice to RebeccaH. No reason.
ReplyDeleteWow, I guess I came off a little harsh. Sorry for that. This "health care" thing really pushed my buttons big time.
ReplyDeleteSmitty can take it, Rebecca. Not only is he a squid, he works for (with?) the venerable R. S. McCain, after all.
ReplyDelete@RebeccaH,
ReplyDeletePeace be unto you. One makes mention of other religions at one's peril. ;)