13 Comments
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Jay Burns's avatar

"Many of us started with Vibe Buddhism, identifying with Buddhism before we really had even the simplest notion of what the Buddha’s Dharma entailed"- totally, I too was inspired by Japhy Ryder. In my 20's i was in a halfway house in Houston run by this tuff ex hooker. She was interviewing me and asked me if I had any religious beliefs. I said I think im Buddhist. She took a drag off her cigarette, exhaled, looked at me coldly and said "you dont know shit about Buddhism" 🤣

Ācārya Malcolm Smith's avatar

Jay, you need to write a Substack. You’re too funny.

price's avatar

Well said. Most people that I've met who are interested in mindfulness or Buddhism are not interested in liberation and feel like such a thing is foolish/impossible. Count me among the fools, then.

Dominique Side's avatar

Thanks for your straightforward honesty.

Michael Fagan's avatar

"Vibe" spirituality actually started with the Theosophists in the late 19th century (Buddhist or Christian), where chelas would gather in a smoking room or library shrine with a cup of tea and

incense, awaiting the Master's presence which, on good days, would precipitate from on high.

It's been around for a while.

Ācārya Malcolm Smith's avatar

In a more general sense it is even older that that, think of darshans, shaktipat, etc

Karloverse's avatar

Brilliant. Sorry I can't give you any vibrations :)

Haven't read such a straightforward honest article in a while. The McMindfulness phenomenon seems to only be getting worse and worse. I guess it's because traditional religion is washed up but people still have a pull towards it. Hence the flourishing of new agey beliefs and manifestation courses for only 300 dollars since you'll manifest 3000 afterwards anyway.

Michael Fagan's avatar

Sure, but we're speaking of Westerners here. "Wibes" are as ancient as the Veds in India.

Karen Lavender's avatar

I totally missed the Vibe Buddhism

Era. The closest I came was to dress up like a beatnik at a high school dance. This involved black tights and an oversized baby blue shirt. I felt very cool.

Ācārya Malcolm Smith's avatar

Oh you didn’t, it’s all around you.

Karen Lavender's avatar

Maybe so, of course, however, .