Western Buddhism Flashcards
What is the process of inculturation?
The gradual adoptions of norms and characteristics of a culture by another culture.
When did much of Buddhism begin to flow into western cultures?
The colonisation of Buddhist countries such as Burma or Thailand.
What does Jay Garfield say about modernism (WB)?
- Garfield also points out that things are not as simple as Buddhism becoming distorted in the West in reality, many of the changes in how Buddhism is seen are happening in Asia as well as the West
- Buddhist Modernism is not exclusively a western phenomenon, since the 19th century Buddhists in Asia have been influenced by Western thought + this has led to changes in how many people in Asia think about the religion
What does Jay Garfield point out about change in Buddhism historically?
- Buddhism has always changed when it moved to a new culture
- When Buddhism has been introduced to new places which already have an advanced culture with a significant tradition in philosophical thought they often combine
- For example, the most significant changes in Buddhism happened when it moved to China from India…for example, the change as Therevada adapted to Mahayana in China + diff in Zen and Monastic practices
- WB is just an adaption to a new culture
How do Buddhist teachings of upaya actually support WB?
- ‘skillful means’ was taught by the Buddha to change the teachings in accordance with what would be most beneficial to the individual
- the parable of the burning house in the Lotus Sutra, where the Buddha talks with Sariputra
- therefore WB is still in line with Buddhist teaching and is just the furthering of aid towards nirvana
How does the west sometimes assume certain values when looking at ‘other’ eastern religions?
- it is seen as a non-dogmatic religion supported by modern science, a religion in which both men and women are treated equally, a religion that places importance on helping those in need and caring for the environment
- however this is reductionist, Buddhism may seem idyllic from the west’s perspective but there is still violence and discrimination eg. the Bodu Bala Sena has continued to carry out hate crimes and the killings of Muslims in Colombo
- but is this a bad thing? by seeing this religion idyllically people in the west will only take up the less harmful aspects, giving a new life to Buddhism without older interferences
- obv some say they have lost the central aim of Buddhism by doing this
Who came up with the term Buddhist Modernism (Neoyana)?
- Heinz Becher in the 1960s referred to a new way of looking at Buddhism that emerged from the 19th century onwards, but it was radically different, de-emphasizing or denying ritual elements, cosmology, gods, icons, rebirth, karma, monasticism, clerical hierarchy.
- It can be argued that WBists have their understanding come from here rather than adapting from the religion’s roots eg. Secular Buddhism, Engaged Buddhism, especially in the earliest traditionalist views of Therevada. This links closely with the idea that Western adoption is merely superficial, seeing Buddhism as exotic.
What is the earliest the West would have heard of the Buddha?
3rd century BCE via the King Ashoka
or When Alexander the Great reached India
First written mention by Clement of Alaxandria who mentioned the Buddha among Pagan idols
When did the first studies of Buddhism take place in Buddhism in the West?
19th century, allow it was only taken seriously in the 20th
What were the first Buddhist countries to become part of the British Empire?
Sri Lanka and Burma
The french also colonised more buddhist countries with many of our early translations of pali texts coming from french
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the 19th century?
19th cent- Schopenhauer, Van Gogh, 1893 World Parliment of Religions (Therevada + Zen)
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the 19th century?
19th cent- Schopenhauer, Van Gogh, Nietzsche
What is the issue with early adoptions of Buddhism?
They are instead dreaming up the kind of Buddhism they wish to see through the use of romanticised Orientalism and exotic imagery.
What did Olcott and Blavatsky pioneer?
1875, The Theosophical society
A mixture of spiritualist, occultist, Hindu and Buddhist ideas.
Heavily romanticising and distorting.
Who formed the Buddhist Society?
Later President?
Ananda Maitreya in 1902
Christmas Humphreys
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the 1900-30s?
1900s - began to be ordained as monks and it became more of a lifestyle, even in the West
1920s - The Buddhist Lodge Published the Tibetan Book of the Dead
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the WWII?
WWII - ‘beat generation’, fashionable and superficial adoptions + those fighting in Buddhist countires adopted it, especially Zen Buddhism
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the 50s?
1949 - Christmas Humphreys published
1950s - mass conversions, eg. 1956 ex-untouchables in India & Therevada established itself in Britain (1954)
Notable Buddhist engagement example in the 60s?
1960s - Chinese invasion of Tibet led to adoption in Europe of Tibetan Buddhism (couterculture…again superficial hippy interest)
