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Random Buddhist Rant
Sep. 21st, 2006 09:44 amSometimes as a Tibetan Buddhist I heartily sick of the anti-religious attitudes I encounter in the gay, slash, and feminist community. (It's particularly bad when I'm talking to someone who's all three.)
You know, I realize that the religious Christian right has taken over this country -- okay, been callously used by cynical politicians -- who've attacked things I believe in, like gay marriage, separation of church and state (hello? the point is to allow a pluralism of religion, a Muslim shouldn't be forced to read a Christian prayer in school). But I'm looking at it from another perspective here.
The freedom to practice your religion as you see fit is fragile. So when I see that snide dismissive arrogance towards religion, I don't think of Jerry Falwell. I think of Tibet.
( Communist China used artillery on my monastery. )
The effort of Communist China to erase religion extends far outside China and Tibet.
( The affect of China's revisionism on academia. )
A Korean scholar told me this was typical of people trained in Communist China, that there is a massive amount of historical revisionism pouring out of China right now.
Meanwhile, colleges with Tibetan Buddhist programs have moved to an ecumenical approach. Those accepting Chinese grants have moved the Tibetan programs under their China studies and pretty much squelched them. Columbia's program is now under Chinese studies, which only makes sense for post-1959 Tibet.
( Chinese political pressure on the Library of Congress in D.C. )
Last I heard, the librarians stood up against this, but they told me it was only a matter of time.
( The spread of Tibetan Buddhism across America. Sort of. )
( Thanks, Kerouac. Ladies, 'I want you to be my tantric consort' is a pick-up line, not a religious message. )
All the American Buddhists who take tantric initiation and then run away when the genyen lay ordination vows are offered: You need them. They're not that hard, it's just no killing, no lying, no stealing, no adultery, and no getting completely plastered (you can drink a little). If you're a soldier you can take just the no lying, no stealing, etc., and take the no killing vow when you can keep it. Without such simple discipline, how can possibly hope to accomplish anything? Is the tantric stuff just for show, just because it's cool?
( George Bush and his shoe-phone. ) /exasperation
I told you this was a rant.
You know, I realize that the religious Christian right has taken over this country -- okay, been callously used by cynical politicians -- who've attacked things I believe in, like gay marriage, separation of church and state (hello? the point is to allow a pluralism of religion, a Muslim shouldn't be forced to read a Christian prayer in school). But I'm looking at it from another perspective here.
The freedom to practice your religion as you see fit is fragile. So when I see that snide dismissive arrogance towards religion, I don't think of Jerry Falwell. I think of Tibet.
( Communist China used artillery on my monastery. )
The effort of Communist China to erase religion extends far outside China and Tibet.
( The affect of China's revisionism on academia. )
A Korean scholar told me this was typical of people trained in Communist China, that there is a massive amount of historical revisionism pouring out of China right now.
Meanwhile, colleges with Tibetan Buddhist programs have moved to an ecumenical approach. Those accepting Chinese grants have moved the Tibetan programs under their China studies and pretty much squelched them. Columbia's program is now under Chinese studies, which only makes sense for post-1959 Tibet.
( Chinese political pressure on the Library of Congress in D.C. )
Last I heard, the librarians stood up against this, but they told me it was only a matter of time.
( The spread of Tibetan Buddhism across America. Sort of. )
( Thanks, Kerouac. Ladies, 'I want you to be my tantric consort' is a pick-up line, not a religious message. )
All the American Buddhists who take tantric initiation and then run away when the genyen lay ordination vows are offered: You need them. They're not that hard, it's just no killing, no lying, no stealing, no adultery, and no getting completely plastered (you can drink a little). If you're a soldier you can take just the no lying, no stealing, etc., and take the no killing vow when you can keep it. Without such simple discipline, how can possibly hope to accomplish anything? Is the tantric stuff just for show, just because it's cool?
( George Bush and his shoe-phone. ) /exasperation
I told you this was a rant.
