How do you view this in relation to what you wrote on The Buddha: Biography of the Myth? Of course, I agree such an autopsy is unnecessary. And I suppose I think it is reductive also. Could it lead to unskilled proliferation? I suppose it could. Is that what you take issue with in particular? I view these texts as coming from wisdom itself, which the Buddha is a personification of. The western commentary is of little consequence to me personally. What are your thoughts on that?
Lopez’s book isn’t just a boring recitation of opinions—rather it’s an honest assessment of the limits of our knowledge and a celebration the Buddha’s life as we know it. The problem with the modern Academic western gaze is that it is fundamentally colonial and extractive. It’s not concerned with furthering and preserving the tradition, instead it wants to skewer Buddhism and mount it in a glass case along with all the other specimens it returned with from its forays into the world.
I find some academic papers about Buddhism do give me that sick feeling that the, usually white, author thinks they are superior and objective. Others are humble and respectful. I think it is fair to expect the later from the 84,000 project.
I completely agree. In a time when people seem to reach out towards organized religion again (and frankly regardless of that) we should just admit that buddhadharma is a religion. Sure you don't have to buy into everything but you also do not need to do so when you are a catholic. We cannot have real lay/householder base when we keep on playing according to the rules of western academia.
Buddha spoke all these texts ans billions more, he emanated to speak other texts and every single teacher or dharmabook is his emanation. Do you gave to believe it? No! Is it a fact dunno, for me it is.
Most of us are not scholars, barely nobody is a yogi, but we all have a potential to be sincere. Let's not snuff it out with useless speculations. Especially when most mahayana sutras are older than pali cannon, etc.
Well said….I agree with you
Thank you Tulku-la, BTW, I am a disciple of Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, so we are vajra cousins.
Thank you, la. It means a lot to share this vajra connection with you.
Warm regards and prayers.
How do you view this in relation to what you wrote on The Buddha: Biography of the Myth? Of course, I agree such an autopsy is unnecessary. And I suppose I think it is reductive also. Could it lead to unskilled proliferation? I suppose it could. Is that what you take issue with in particular? I view these texts as coming from wisdom itself, which the Buddha is a personification of. The western commentary is of little consequence to me personally. What are your thoughts on that?
Lopez’s book isn’t just a boring recitation of opinions—rather it’s an honest assessment of the limits of our knowledge and a celebration the Buddha’s life as we know it. The problem with the modern Academic western gaze is that it is fundamentally colonial and extractive. It’s not concerned with furthering and preserving the tradition, instead it wants to skewer Buddhism and mount it in a glass case along with all the other specimens it returned with from its forays into the world.
I find some academic papers about Buddhism do give me that sick feeling that the, usually white, author thinks they are superior and objective. Others are humble and respectful. I think it is fair to expect the later from the 84,000 project.
I don’t think either Canti or Spareham fall into the former category. I was mainly complaining about their need to address the status quo opinion.
That makes a lot of sense, thank you
I completely agree. In a time when people seem to reach out towards organized religion again (and frankly regardless of that) we should just admit that buddhadharma is a religion. Sure you don't have to buy into everything but you also do not need to do so when you are a catholic. We cannot have real lay/householder base when we keep on playing according to the rules of western academia.
Buddha spoke all these texts ans billions more, he emanated to speak other texts and every single teacher or dharmabook is his emanation. Do you gave to believe it? No! Is it a fact dunno, for me it is.
Most of us are not scholars, barely nobody is a yogi, but we all have a potential to be sincere. Let's not snuff it out with useless speculations. Especially when most mahayana sutras are older than pali cannon, etc.
Hmm.... to be expected were he a university professor, which is not. Thanks again.