[Twendypreency]

Just was wondering is there such a thing as fundamentalist Buddhism? there is in every other Religion.

[intorkercet]

I can think of two types...

One type is like this...
http://tipitaka.wikia.com/wiki/Brahmajala_Sutta
"Whereas some ascetics and Brahmins remain addicted to disputation such as:

‘You don't understand this doctrine and discipline - I do!’
"How could you understand this Doctrine and Discipline?"
‘Your way is all wrong - mine is right!’
"I am consistent - you aren't!"
‘You said last what you should have said first, and you said first what you should have said last!’
"What you took so long to think up has been refuted!"
‘Your argument has been overthrown, you're defeated!’
"Go on, save your doctrine - get out of that if you can!"

The ascetic Gotama refrains from such disputation." Another type...knowing your fundamentals well (applies too to anything else in life, in one's career, relationship et al)
http://www.vipassana.com/canon/samyutta/sn20-7.php
"Thus you should train yourselves:
'We will listen when discourses that are words of the Tathagata -- deep, deep in their meaning, transcendent, connected with emptiness -- are being recited. We will lend ear, will set our hearts on knowing them, will regard these teachings as worth grasping & mastering.'
That's how you should train yourselves."

[ManituIKOL]

Hi Jupiter,

We already have a thread in the Beyond Belief forum called 'Fundamentalist Buddhism." However that forum is primarily for debating between experienced practitioners.

As you said you are new to Buddhism, the best place for this is probably the 'Buddhism for Beginners' forum, so I'll move it from the General Buddhist Discussions forum.

Hope that's ok with you.

Kind wishes,

A-D

[sniskelsowwef]

Everyone has different ideas about what "fundamenalism" is.

Funny how few people will claim to be fundamentalists themselves.

There is no real "fundamentalism" in Buddhism.

There is a lot of use of the term in Buddhist debate over the Buddha's teachings to "poison the well". Usually by folks who wish to stuff their favored superstitions and metaphysical speculations into the Buddha's mouth.

[Unrersvar]

i think soka gakkai has a fundamentalist flavor to it. years ago i attended one of their services. it was a surreal buddhist pep rally. at one point a bunch of them burst into the room singing nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the tune of "anchors away". i'm not kidding. it was something to behold.

[MeeveStesia]

fun·da·men·tal·ism/ˌfəndəˈmentlˌizəm/Noun1. A form of Protestant Christianity that upholds belief in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible.
2. Strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion or ideology, notably Islam. I think the Thai forest tradition fits some of this description, at least in the Ajahn Chan lineage where I was. They taught me that strict observance of the Vinaya was sufficient to attain the goal of awakening through fostering mindfulness. One is trained to be meticulous in following the "proper" way of doing almost everything. This isn't a perfect match, though, as there isn't much of a return to the Pali Canon. Reading and studying the suttas is discouraged in favor of learning the Vinaya code.

[WoCTrt0X]

Reading and studying the suttas is discouraged in favor of learning the Vinaya code.

You were in Thailand though FBM, weren't you? That may not be the case with the Forest Tradition in the west because I recall Ajahn Sumedho often refering to the suttas in his offline talks.

Also this free book doesn't suggest discouragement of sutta study either;


The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha’s Teachings on Nibbāna

by Ajahn Pasanno & Ajahn Amaro


What is presented here is an attempt by Ajahn Pasanno and myself to put together a small compendium of these ‘essence teachings’ of the Buddha, as they appear in the Pali Canon and have been conveyed by the lineages that rely upon them (the Thai forest tradition in particular), in the hope that they will be of benefit to those who rejoice in the liberation of the heart. All the other references that are made herein, whether drawing on Thai forest meditation masters, modern science, classical literature, Northern Buddhism or whatever, are made solely to help illustrate the meaning of the Pali – it is the faith of the editors that the Buddha’s words can speak for themselves and this work has been compiled with that intention.

http://www.abhayagiri.org/main/book/1788/

[xochex]

I'm sure the Western branches of the Thai forest tradition are different from the traditional Thai. I was just relating what I experienced at Wat Sunandavanaram in Kanchanaburi. Didn't mean to imply that the same is true for Wat Nanachat or the others...

[antonyandruleit]

Wat Nanachat...

It sounded the same to me, when I lived in Thailand. Vinaya = Enlightenment

[HassFks]

It does develop mindfulness to a high degree. There is a lot to be said for it. I just think it needs to be combined with study. There's no reason I know of that the two can't be combined, but it's typically an either-or choice in Thailand.