New Buddhism vs. Buddhism?

stingraygirl93

I have heard of both. What is the difference?

vinlyn

Well, let me just touch on a small aspect of the answer...and rather simplistic. I dislike the "new Christian" practices akin to sitting around in a circle and singing Kumbaya and thinking it has done something positive. Too simplistic. I think that is true of some aspects of what you refer to as "New Buddhism". But again, I'm just touching on...well, touchy-feely Buddhism.

compassionate_warrior

I don't know what "New Buddhism" is. Maybe our forum admins or mods can explain?

fivebells

I wasn't around at the site's inception, but I assume the term comes from the title of David Brazier's book The New Buddhism. (Recently available for preview on google books; can't link to it because I'm typing on my phone.) Buddhism is a syncretic religion which has historically absorbed facets of the cultures that have taken it up, resulting in drastic cosmetic changes, though the fundamental practices don't change. Brazier's book anticipates a similar shift as Buddhism is taken up by the West, and the title refers to the resulting fusion.

ZenYen

I might have to look into that book, fivebells. Thank you.

federica

Brian (The Forum Founder) wanted a simple venue for people new to Buddhism to be able to come and find virtual Refuge from the woes and worries of the day, and to investigate Buddhism and all its aspects, in a simple, kind and neutral way.

The site has naturally evolved, changed, grown and developed into diverse paths, but the essence of the initial intention is still here.
To make this a nice place to be to discuss aspects of Buddhism in a way that is both simple, yet educational, easy to understand, yet profound.

Mostly...... :rolleyes:

SherabDorje

The fundamental teachings of Buddhism itself are timeless. There may be cultural overlay, but that's all it is.

DhammaDhatu

Indeed, the fundamental teachings of Buddhism itself are timeless. There may be cultural overlay, including during the Buddha's own time. Many of the Buddha's own (mundane) teachings were cultural overlay, the clarifying & improving of pre-existing beliefs.

NOTaGangsta

It's just what it is. The teachings doesn't change, just presented differently for different people living in different times/culture. Hell, most of stuff you hear about "Don't do drugs" "obey the law" and "respect your parents" are in accordance with Buddhism. Because it's the basics to behave as a human being.

Cinorjer

I wasn't around at the site's inception, but I assume the term comes from the title of David Brazier's book The New Buddhism. (Recently available for preview on google books; can't link to it because I'm typing on my phone.) Buddhism is a syncretic religion which has historically absorbed facets of the cultures that have taken it up, resulting in drastic cosmetic changes, though the fundamental practices don't change. Brazier's book anticipates a similar shift as Buddhism is taken up by the West, and the title refers to the resulting fusion.

First, you're typing on a phone here? Kuddos. My attempts to use my Blackberry result in "anser is yes will send longer rply lter". My thumbs are not meant for typing.

Anyway, I agree that while in one sense core Buddhist practice doesn't change, new Buddhism (or Western Buddhism, and even more problematic way of saying it), is structured around an open lay population instead of temple monks in retreats, and the lay population is more educated so the philosophy and worldview has a more important role. Also being more concerned with a lay membership, the Buddhist practice is more socially engaged and seeks to address the problems of this population in a way that is unusual for a practice that tends to withdrawl from the world in seeking nonattachment. But it's still the same Buddhism practiced by the East, in most ways.

I'll have to check out that book.

Prometheus

fivebells: "Buddhism is a syncretic religion which has historically absorbed facets of the cultures that have taken it up, resulting in drastic cosmetic changes, though the fundamental practices don't change".

Indeed. Perhaps I'll call my 'culture' the scientific culture. I've pretty much jettisoned anything from Buddhism that I consider to be unsupported by reason and experiment, and this has left the fundamental principles of the 3MoE, 4NT and 8FP unchanged.

Linc

The site's name refers to being new to Buddhism, not a movement or idea.

compassionate_warrior

OH! Thanks for the clarification, Linc.

fivebells

Sorry for the misrepresentation, then.

Linc

Brian joked last night: "It represented a decent domain name for a Buddhist site that wasn't already taken!"

Palzang

But you do bring up an important point, stingraygirl. There has been something of an effort to "dumb down" Buddhism in the West as we like things that are easy to do, non-threatening (to our ego), and can be accomplished in the 30 minute time span of a sitcom. Such a tendency is to be scrupulously avoided as it will produce no benefit to anyone (except, perhaps, financial benefit to those who capitalize off it with T-shirts, feel-good books, feel-good retreats, and other paraphernalia). On the other hand, what Mr. NOTagangsta says is equally true, Buddhism has always taken on the cultural trappings of whatever culture it has moved to. It would be unreasonable to expect that that wouldn't happen in the West. In fact, it would be unfortunate if we all went around trying to be good little Japanese or Thai or Tibetan or whatever Buddhists when we're Americans or Europeans. That just makes you look silly and is extremely superficial. We must and will develop a Western Buddhism that preserves the essential teachings but looks Western. In fact, given the West's spiritual eclecticism, I would expect there to be a number of "Western Buddhisms" develop, and I think that's a good thing. It will make it possible for Westerners to relate to the teachings.

Cinorjer

But you do bring up an important point, stingraygirl. There has been something of an effort to "dumb down" Buddhism in the West as we like things that are easy to do, non-threatening (to our ego), and can be accomplished in the 30 minute time span of a sitcom. Such a tendency is to be scrupulously avoided as it will produce no benefit to anyone (except, perhaps, financial benefit to those who capitalize off it with T-shirts, feel-good books, feel-good retreats, and other paraphernalia). On the other hand, what Mr. NOTagangsta says is equally true, Buddhism has always taken on the cultural trappings of whatever culture it has moved to. It would be unreasonable to expect that that wouldn't happen in the West. In fact, it would be unfortunate if we all went around trying to be good little Japanese or Thai or Tibetan or whatever Buddhists when we're Americans or Europeans. That just makes you look silly and is extremely superficial. We must and will develop a Western Buddhism that preserves the essential teachings but looks Western. In fact, given the West's spiritual eclecticism, I would expect there to be a number of "Western Buddhisms" develop, and I think that's a good thing. It will make it possible for Westerners to relate to the teachings.

Hey, we survived the "Pop Zen" movement of the sixties and seventies where Zen became just a marketing tool about empty minds (Zen and the Art of Archery, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Zen and Whatever) and Chinese Buddhism was all about kung foo on the bad guys.

thickpaper

I have heard of both. What is the difference?

These are the absolute facts:

Traditional Buddhists follow the religions that come under the umbrella of Buddhism.

New Buddhists try to overlook history and get back to the start, to what the Buddha discovered, understood and taught, The Dharma.

Actually, I'm kidding, there aint many facts in buddhism old or new.

IMO, there is not any incompatibility between the two, so long as neither is swaddled in dogma.

As for this website not having an agenda to "New Buddhism", it certainly seem's to attract many people who might call them selves new buddhist's.

Quiz: Which kind of Buddhism is this:

Be Honest, Be Kind, Be Mindful, Be Here Now and Be Your Own Light.

Answers on a post-card only:p

xx

Linc

Zen and the Art of Archery

I think you have erroneously included an outstanding book in your tirade.

Cinorjer

Ah, my apologies. Substitute "Zen and the Art of Competitive Eating" which was an actual book.