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Reflections on a Buddhist Anarchism.
DaltheJigsaw
Mountain View Veteran
I suppose that all of this basically comes down to a deep dissatisfaction with life and the world that we live in. After years of grappling with this, trying on different approaches, lifestyles, ideologies, drugs, traveling, I now have come to see this world and my life in it in a particular way. My well-being, and the well-being of everyone in the world, basically comes down to our own choices that we make. Our choices have consequences. We can be happier, healthier, and live more fulfilling lives if we learn how to make wiser more skillful choices. This is what I call Buddhist anarchism.
What’s in a name
Writing all of this I have a concern that I am merely contributing another label, another –ism, another ideology to a world that is already saturated with these. I do not want to add another set of words and ideas to fight over, but rather I want to tie together some historical streams of thought and practice that I believe can be quite beneficial and mutually reinforcing.
When I say “anarchism” what I’m referring to is a social philosophy based on an understanding that leads away from domination, top-down hierarchy and coercion, as exemplified by institutions such as capitalism and the state, and towards greater social freedom, voluntary cooperation and sharing of resources. Two slogans best summarize this worldview: "No gods, no masters" and "liberty, equality, fraternity".
http://anarchistnews.org/?q=node/14307
What’s in a name
Writing all of this I have a concern that I am merely contributing another label, another –ism, another ideology to a world that is already saturated with these. I do not want to add another set of words and ideas to fight over, but rather I want to tie together some historical streams of thought and practice that I believe can be quite beneficial and mutually reinforcing.
When I say “anarchism” what I’m referring to is a social philosophy based on an understanding that leads away from domination, top-down hierarchy and coercion, as exemplified by institutions such as capitalism and the state, and towards greater social freedom, voluntary cooperation and sharing of resources. Two slogans best summarize this worldview: "No gods, no masters" and "liberty, equality, fraternity".
http://anarchistnews.org/?q=node/14307
0
Comments
Anyways, here are a few quotes which seem appropriate for this thread:
"Buddhism is anarchism, after all, for anarchism is love, trust, selflessness and all those good Buddhist virtues including a total lack of imposition on another." - Robert Aitken Roshi
"Representatives will become unnecessary if the national life becomes so perfect and self-controlled. It will then be a state of enlightened anarchy in which each person will become his own ruler." - Mohandas Gandhi
If we are mindful in our choices, there will be a collective change as we and others awaken.
One thing I have to keep reminding myself though is that I should not try to force others to my will... this is what I believe Robert Aitken Roshi meant by "a total lack of imposition on another". The Wall Street Occupiers and the Tea Partiers may both feel they have good intentions, but are they not trying to impose their views on others? In an angry way? I fear the Occupiers have the potential of turning to violence... nothing could hurt their cause more.
A Mystic is respected and remembered for his/her ability to not turn to violence, and those that do are discredited.
So try to be really cool and join the right path.
For example, there are many subcultures out of frustration about the society. But there effort for making a change is halfheartedly and it goes till the point where there own desire comes up. So they might be "cool" but actually they are not.
There are many people protesting about business and economic system, but if they would have no handy or laptop they would not be happy if it really goes the way they like. So if we like to be cool we need to be real cool first. Everything else is just opposition but far away from reality.
The Buddha as well as the Bhikkhus who follow him walking the only way to coolness. They don't just talk, they do it. Their life is a sample and they show that it is possible. So if somebody likes to be real cool, he would not find somebody who was more "freaky" and cool like the Buddha. If somebody likes to make a change or sees the reality of our world, there would be only the way of the Vinaya which is possible to walk to make a difference.
All this political or modern ways are nothing but hypocritical and do not change anything.
*smile*
Walk the cool way and gain coolness (Nirvana)!
I think it is well within Buddhist compassion to stand up for what is right for a just economy and a compassion for the only ecology we have, which is swiftly becoming endangered to the point of collapse. In fact I think it is quite Non Buddhist and selfish to sit on the sidelines and watch the greed and destruction of our economies and ecology. It doesn't matter what name you call these protests. If enough people get out there and protest and boycott mega-corporations and remain non-violent there is a slight chance that the systems might change to a more egalitarian system. But I doubt that is going to happen. What I see is a second revolution in the near future. As our economy and ecology becomes worse, the citizens will begin to fight back....with violence. We have already scene this in the flash mobs, and police brutality to unarmed citizens. So if you think that Buddhism or any other religious discipline is going to make the social situation better, you had better think twice, because this revolution is headed to all of our doorsteps.
Faith (out of understanding) needs its time. When we see the whole circle of our life we start to understand.
Buddhism is good to teach people virtue like every other religion and its also good for people who like to go beyond, but as a political tool its nothing but suicide of the Buddhism and Buddhists as well.
We dont need to forget, that we have many many samples of "Buddhist" countries and they have been not a little more peaceful than others.
I guess its a very illusion that people who call them Buddhist are different to others as long as they are not free of greed, hatred and delusion by them self. And at this point they would not try to make change samsara, how beautiful it seems, the rich suffers as equal as the poor and his real problems are not solved.
*smile*
To understand the world better its good to leave the palace first. We have many ideas how it could be, would be... but these are just ideas.
That means that you, and me have to change our ways too. Not just be able to understand the real Buddhist message, but we have to change our behavior. We have to wake up to the idea that life is going to get harder for everyone for quite awhile. We have to start boycotting large corporations. We have to start living more simply so that others may simply live. These are very practical day to day activities, not theory of the correct Buddhist interpretation. This revolution effects all people on the Earth, and every religion.
There is already a good way, so no need to make a new experiment. Communism, a brilliant idea and would fit to Christianity as well as Buddhism, like Capitalism would fit perfect to both as well, the problem is that humans as natural corrupt and walk always between. So don't wast your time if you see it for your self and take the right track even you are alone. Some wise will follow. *smile* Those with much defilement will invest there present live for the next death and birth, we have endless time to do it again and again.
*smile* But we need to understand that an existence as human is very rare and not easy to gain once again soon.
There is nothing practical in the way of boycotting, that is nothing but an expression of aversion and does not help anybody. To follow the Dhamma means to but it into action, honestly and not for the sake of taking side.
There is no need to boycott anything if one simply abstains from killing, harming, stealing (taking what is not freely given), lying (speaking things that are not true), sexual misconduct and taking intoxicants.
There are less who have the nuts to put it into action, therefore the try to change the world rather to take care of there own virtue.
We are at the darkest age since the turning of the wheel of Dhamma. *smile* Even the possibilities of practicing it are getting lesser and rare. So its very needed that many really start to make a change and this starts only by one self.
We really do not know what the future holds, so I will not allow myself to antagonize over it. We live in a Democratic Society, so we can vote for the candidate that best fits our concerns. I feel for the far left and far right though because they don't normally get a candidate to represent their ideas, because basically they are "far", and not mainstream... so the "far" have to represent theirselves in angry mob scenes, such as Tea Partiers and Wall Street Occupiers.
So because I am trying to live in the moment and not get caught up in any of the "far" propaganda that we are damned if we don't join their side, my life does not have much stress... and that is working out pretty well for me.
The Lost Wallet
It's as if you leave home and lose your wallet. It fell out of your pocket onto the road away back there, but as long as you don't realize what happened you're at ease — at ease because you don't yet know what this ease is for. It's for the sake of dis-ease at a later time. When you eventually see that you've really lost your money: That's when you feel dis-ease — when it's right in your face.
The same holds true with our bad and good actions. The Buddha taught us to acquaint ourselves with these things. If we aren't acquainted with these things, we'll have no sense of right or wrong, good or bad.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/insimpleterms.html
Poor people do not chat in internet, believe me.
"If people hate you, that's when you're let off the hook. You can come and go as you like without having to worry about whether or not they'll miss you or get upset at your going. And you don't have to bring any presents for them when you come back. You're free to do as you like."
I am sure one could easy misunderstand it. So I think its good to train on to get the message.
Punks and Anarchist often use this idea as well, but is the intention really pure?
*smile* I thought its good to come back to the topic.
He abundant every materialism and has the right way for all walks of life by walking the way of simplicity of thoughts and actions like walking, eating, sleeping and living. He is humility and respectful from his way of begging for food. He displays full of wisdom that of all beings through all problems and solutions mentioned in the scriptures. :cool:
Bothi added the 'with compassion' as an ending to his post.
I don't think he meant that the Buddha was an anarchist with compassion.
he meant, that the "Buddha was an anarchist too". (end of post).
And then signed off 'with compassion'.
but I like your interpretation and understanding of it, better!!