DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - 'Buddhism is the new opium of the people'

**Quigoxito** · 04-12-2011, 08:53 AM

What a great discussion!
In my references to the Amish I didn't mean that people should give up using electricity or whatever. I was thinking about what was said about choosing between:
1. "...the culture-less and timeless teachings of the historical Buddha left in the Pali Canon.."
and
2. "...one of the many Buddhisms that are at hand at the spiritual marketplace..."

and what came to mind is that we shouldn't shy away from a buddhist tradition merely because it has taken on some of the cultural flavor of a place where it has flourished for a few centuries. But this means that in the west it may also acquire a somewhat new look. I mean, it has to to some extent. As long as the teachings are truly Buddhist teachings then I think there is a lot of flexibility.

04-12-2011, 08:53 AM	#13
Quigoxito Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 442 Senior Member	What a great discussion! In my references to the Amish I didn't mean that people should give up using electricity or whatever. I was thinking about what was said about choosing between: 1. "...the culture-less and timeless teachings of the historical Buddha left in the Pali Canon.." and 2. "...one of the many Buddhisms that are at hand at the spiritual marketplace..." and what came to mind is that we shouldn't shy away from a buddhist tradition merely because it has taken on some of the cultural flavor of a place where it has flourished for a few centuries. But this means that in the west it may also acquire a somewhat new look. I mean, it has to to some extent. As long as the teachings are truly Buddhist teachings then I think there is a lot of flexibility.
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