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**sbrpkkl** · 06-24-2012, 10:14 AM

People don't have to suggest or endorse the view that Western Buddhists should develop their own methods or schools of Buddhism. That is because Western Buddhists ARE developing their own methods or schools of Buddhism. Teaching of Buddhism will evolve with or without people's approval, and it won't be the first time that happened either.

The first split of Buddhism between Mahasanghikas and Sthaviras were over the sangha's disciplinary issues shortly after Buddha's passing. If Mahasanghikas and Sthaviras, who are culturally similar, can split over the rule of sangha, wouldn't it be natural that Western Buddhists will evolve their own methods? After all, there is a big chasm between the cultural background of Western and Eastern Buddhists. Just witness the discussion on 'super-naturalism' on this forum; 'super-naturalism' would not even be a topic among Eastern Buddhists, (At least the Chinese variety.) because it is taken for granted that 'super-naturalism' is part of reality and there is nothing 'super-natural' about them.

One more thought on the following quote from the article:

North American Buddhists are likely to create their own traditions and schools of thought, but they should do so with the awareness that they are forging a new Buddhist culture, not the ‘true’ Buddhist culture.

If they don’t recognize this fact, the same problem of adaptation would also apply, hypothetically, to any developed North American Buddhist tradition 900 years in the future either by its devout ecclesiastical adherents or when first introduced to the population of some other culture that had never been exposed to the teachings of the Buddha. Again, just witness the disagreements between 'Mahayana' and 'Theravada' over certain aspects of Buddha's teaching will demonstrate that this is also inevitable.

Buddhism teaches anicca and anatta. Anicca and anatta apply to the teaching of Buddhism as well.

I am actually very curious about the eventual form of Western Buddhism. Just like I consider Ch'an to be an eventual form of Chinese Buddhism (along with Pure-land and Humanistic), I very much look forward to the form that Western Buddhism would take. (If I am still alive at that time.)

06-24-2012, 10:14 AM	#2
sbrpkkl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 490 Senior Member	People don't have to suggest or endorse the view that Western Buddhists should develop their own methods or schools of Buddhism. That is because Western Buddhists ARE developing their own methods or schools of Buddhism. Teaching of Buddhism will evolve with or without people's approval, and it won't be the first time that happened either. The first split of Buddhism between Mahasanghikas and Sthaviras were over the sangha's disciplinary issues shortly after Buddha's passing. If Mahasanghikas and Sthaviras, who are culturally similar, can split over the rule of sangha, wouldn't it be natural that Western Buddhists will evolve their own methods? After all, there is a big chasm between the cultural background of Western and Eastern Buddhists. Just witness the discussion on 'super-naturalism' on this forum; 'super-naturalism' would not even be a topic among Eastern Buddhists, (At least the Chinese variety.) because it is taken for granted that 'super-naturalism' is part of reality and there is nothing 'super-natural' about them. One more thought on the following quote from the article: North American Buddhists are likely to create their own traditions and schools of thought, but they should do so with the awareness that they are forging a new Buddhist culture, not the ‘true’ Buddhist culture. If they don’t recognize this fact, the same problem of adaptation would also apply, hypothetically, to any developed North American Buddhist tradition 900 years in the future either by its devout ecclesiastical adherents or when first introduced to the population of some other culture that had never been exposed to the teachings of the Buddha. Again, just witness the disagreements between 'Mahayana' and 'Theravada' over certain aspects of Buddha's teaching will demonstrate that this is also inevitable. Buddhism teaches anicca and anatta. Anicca and anatta apply to the teaching of Buddhism as well. I am actually very curious about the eventual form of Western Buddhism. Just like I consider Ch'an to be an eventual form of Chinese Buddhism (along with Pure-land and Humanistic), I very much look forward to the form that Western Buddhism would take. (If I am still alive at that time.)
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