Think for a moment about the vast differences
between a "theocratic" agrarian feudal society
and ours. Look at the middle ages in Europe,
or pre-colonial Africa, pre-columbian America.
In many cases, there were very high cultures,
sophisticated language, learning, religion
and spirituality, as well as commerce.
But their world is very different from ours.
illiteracy does not necessarily equate with
ignorance. We are not necessarily free of
superstition. To assume that our situation is
superior is a kind of cultural imperialism.
An advantage we have as well as a curse
is freedom habit; we have choice as well
as responsibility. We are not stuck with the
profession of our father, grandfather, etc.--
farmer, yak herder, trader, shoemaker or priest.
We might train as a watchmaker, but become
a computer programmer, only to find ourselves
selling insurance or real estate! And then we think
we have the right to change what is not to our liking!
Well sometimes yes, sometimes no. This habit can make
us lazy in a different way from traditional Asians. we don't
consider our fixed way of being as an obstacle-- we can't
even see it so we sometimes develop an anti-tradition
value. We don't want to obey anyone (and most certainly
not Asians people), and we want to change things and do
what we please meanwhile calling it Buddhism.
We have every right to make up a new religion,
but we cannot call it Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans are the
authorities on their culture. If we choose to enter their world,
we become authorities only after many years of study and
practice (she-drup). We may question, but for the purpose
of learning, practicing and accomplishing, not to assert our
superiority.
When Tibetans enter our world, they are our disciples. It is nobody's
business to force our paradigm on them. Marxism for example
is a western paradigm, that is exactly why Nelson Mandela opposed
it as a model for the ANC-- it simply wouldn't address the real issues
Africans faced.
Of course we can never become Tibetans, even in our dreams, nor
should we try. But we ought to have respect, and consider that they
know what they're doing, and the stages of the path work for human
beings, because in the Nature of Mind, there is no Tibetan or Western.
These distinctions are superficial, cultural conditioning-- the very definition
of "obstacle" in Buddhism.
between a "theocratic" agrarian feudal society
and ours. Look at the middle ages in Europe,
or pre-colonial Africa, pre-columbian America.
In many cases, there were very high cultures,
sophisticated language, learning, religion
and spirituality, as well as commerce.
But their world is very different from ours.
illiteracy does not necessarily equate with
ignorance. We are not necessarily free of
superstition. To assume that our situation is
superior is a kind of cultural imperialism.
An advantage we have as well as a curse
is freedom habit; we have choice as well
as responsibility. We are not stuck with the
profession of our father, grandfather, etc.--
farmer, yak herder, trader, shoemaker or priest.
We might train as a watchmaker, but become
a computer programmer, only to find ourselves
selling insurance or real estate! And then we think
we have the right to change what is not to our liking!
Well sometimes yes, sometimes no. This habit can make
us lazy in a different way from traditional Asians. we don't
consider our fixed way of being as an obstacle-- we can't
even see it so we sometimes develop an anti-tradition
value. We don't want to obey anyone (and most certainly
not Asians people), and we want to change things and do
what we please meanwhile calling it Buddhism.
We have every right to make up a new religion,
but we cannot call it Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans are the
authorities on their culture. If we choose to enter their world,
we become authorities only after many years of study and
practice (she-drup). We may question, but for the purpose
of learning, practicing and accomplishing, not to assert our
superiority.
When Tibetans enter our world, they are our disciples. It is nobody's
business to force our paradigm on them. Marxism for example
is a western paradigm, that is exactly why Nelson Mandela opposed
it as a model for the ANC-- it simply wouldn't address the real issues
Africans faced.
Of course we can never become Tibetans, even in our dreams, nor
should we try. But we ought to have respect, and consider that they
know what they're doing, and the stages of the path work for human
beings, because in the Nature of Mind, there is no Tibetan or Western.
These distinctions are superficial, cultural conditioning-- the very definition
of "obstacle" in Buddhism.
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Tibetan Buddhism
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