tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post5084074351903433962..comments2024-02-14T08:44:41.513+00:00Comments on Progressive Buddhism: Morphology of Western BuddhismMyeong Jin Eunsahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/10324409234993116264noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-48129945862056168422009-02-13T12:55:00.000+00:002009-02-13T12:55:00.000+00:00Hi Ted, thanks,I think the difficulty is always go...Hi Ted, thanks,<BR/><BR/>I think the difficulty is always going to be getting people to agree where 'distinctive marks and imprints' ends and 'universal element' begins. And this conservative-liberal scale of interpretation is reflected in the wide range of forms that Western Buddhism takes with Conservative forms at one end, Buddhist syncretism and reformist in the middle and Integral and Therapeutic at the far end (and no longer technically Buddhism).<BR/><BR/>So this opens up a good topic for discussion: what is essential to Buddhism and what is just cultural expression?Shoninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-49474956981082540902009-02-13T12:41:00.000+00:002009-02-13T12:41:00.000+00:00Thanks Jamie - added!Thanks Jamie - added!Shoninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-35821352629558346592009-02-13T11:19:00.000+00:002009-02-13T11:19:00.000+00:00Hello Justin,Thank you for this post (and the blog...Hello Justin,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this post (and the blog itself!).<BR/><BR/>In reading this post, I am reminded of something else I read.<BR/><BR/>“If Zen has a universal element that transcends historical and cultural bounds, it should be nurtured here in the West with its own distinctive marks and imprints.” <BR/><BR/>Thus wrote Hee-Jin Kim, in his landmark book, Eihei Dogen Mystical Realist.<BR/><BR/>The character of "Progressive Buddhism", based on my experience, is one of the “universal elements” of the classic masters as they are portrayed in the classic records of Zen. Although each of the great masters demonstrates individual, often highly distinctive styles, they nevertheless exhibit certain “universal elements.”<BR/><BR/>Another element they share is an air of serenity and unshakable authority that is based on personal experience, rather than knowledge or learning. Perhaps the most important element they share is the message that informs and permeates all of their records; all beings are inherently endowed with the freedom and wisdom of the sages, they need only awaken to their true nature to realize the fact.<BR/> <BR/>Would it not be marvelous to practice/realize Progressive Buddhism as an exploration of how we can best carry the liberating message of the Buddhadharma to all beings in modern world —and beyond.<BR/>Thus, the question seems to be how to carry the authentic teachings while remaining outside the defined orthodoxy of any particular sect, school, or lineage. The examples set by many of the classic masters may provide us with clues on how to “nurture” the “universal element” of the Buddhad-harma in a style with the “distinctive marks and imprints” of the modern world.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again!<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>Ted BiringerTed Biringerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00497538623775589400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-52100451481049703702009-02-12T19:39:00.000+00:002009-02-12T19:39:00.000+00:00Well, there are about 102 different toothpaste pro...Well, there are about 102 different toothpaste products on sale at the average large drugstore. It's a function of the age, perhaps, that Buddhism will splay across a wide spectrum of possibilities.<BR/><BR/>Since Western Buddhism is, generally, non-dogmatic, there will be solotary persons having their own, individualized points of view, in constant flux.<BR/><BR/>This is not a bad thing; we'll still be able to talk with each other. And this Jellyfish Buddhism will grow and prosper, adding ever more tenticles.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-20676379261853542112009-02-07T18:38:00.000+00:002009-02-07T18:38:00.000+00:00Whoops...sorry about the delete.I have one to add ...Whoops...sorry about the delete.<BR/><BR/>I have one to add under the Buddhist Syncretism catagory.<BR/><BR/><B>Western Insight Meditation/Vipassana Movement</B>:<BR/>Rooted in the Theravadin Thai Forest and Burmese traditions, liberal, primarily a lay-led movement (no ordination of monks). Leaders include Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and Sharon Salzburg. <BR/><BR/>This is the tradition I identify with the most. In fact, Gil Fronsdal is the closest thing I would consider to being my teacher (I don't have an in-person teacher due to my physical location, so most of my practice is sitting alone, reading books, on-line community, and podcasts).<BR/><BR/>I may do up a post later on the Western IM/V Movement or do a review of Goldstein's "One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism" soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5043003269935490917.post-19602110074473460582009-02-07T18:24:00.000+00:002009-02-07T18:24:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com