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How much persecution is a new Buddhist signing up for?
matthewmartin
Amateur BodhisattvaSuburbs of Mt Meru Veteran
I was reading some atheist literature and I was struck by the story about an high school student that got kicked off a basketball team at a public highschool for not participating in the Christian rites. It dawns on me that from the Christian standpoint, I'm an atheist, and probably most US Buddhist are since a typical belief in the supernatural is either missing, or it doesn't entail an immortal, sentient creator, or it entails a difficult to explain idea about monism. [Yeah, yeah, I know Vairocana and Amitabha might make an anti-atheist happy, but not not the anti-non-Christian and not all Buddhisms entail anything that looks like monism, Vaoirocana or Amitabha]
Anyone have stories about persecution (all along the scale, from refusal to accommodate to being fed to lions)? What would the Buddhist way to deal with it?
Anyone have stories about persecution (all along the scale, from refusal to accommodate to being fed to lions)? What would the Buddhist way to deal with it?
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Comments
I know a guy who makes amazing Taiko drums. He approached a highly regarded Taiko troupe based in the local Jodo Shinshu temple and was rejected because he wasn't a Buddhist.
The door swings both ways, I'm afraid.
But in the same way I don't expect others to love chocolate as much as I do or hate anchovies as much as I do, it's hardly unusual when Buddhism doesn't strike a sympathetic or accepting chord with others. And I hardly ever sit around licking my everyone's-picking-on-me wounds when someone doesn't agree with me about chocolate or anchovies or Buddhism... though I may have an occasional thought about how foolish they are.
I think most people only have issues when they are put in a position that makes them feel defensive in some way or another. If you are calm, peaceful, and smiling, you dont give reason for escation.
Just dont start telling everyone a about how wonderful buddhism is and how its changed you life.. Thats as bad as telling people about your kids lol, no one cares or wants to know. The way you spread dhamma is by LIVING dhamma, people notice and some may ask questions, then you babble.
You're not a Christian or a participant in the issues - what purpose is served by the fictitious standpoint?
Careful what is propogated.
Not sure I can speak for buddhism but I think dealing with what is on your plate is sufficiently time consuming.
One doesn't have to be a parody of Christian evangelism to get outed. That fact that we see that secrecy about religious beliefs to be the default and ordinary state of things is telling.
And more importantly, what a lousy social system we have going if we have to keep such facts secret. (I think recently elsewhere on the board there was a discussion on what symbols one can wear before you offend the areligious or differently religious)
re: geography (mentioned by several people)
The part about there being 2 Americas though is instructive-- if you're in one, it's hard to believe that the other one exists.
If that's the case, I'd like to know what forms that persecution takes.
If you don't mind ......
If you wanted to get a job at Focus on the Family and let it be known you were a Buddhist, you'd be denied the job. I've heard tell that people revealing their non-Christian beliefs have been termniated afterwards. All within the law, of course, but it's still a form of persecution in my mind.
I'm a programmer and I like to think a pretty one. My religious beliefs are irrelevant to that. I should be considered for as programming job, solely on the basis of my skill and experience. I can program as well as any Christian and perhaps better than some. In most aspects of life it's illegal to discriminate on the basis of religion. Programming isn't a religious pursuit. I don't have a problem with FOTF's religion. If they don't want me because they've got someone netter, I have no complaint, but if it's because of my beliefs, then there's a problem.
But my point is, I come from a place that a lot of people on either coast might consider to be the "other America", yet I never really picked up on any Christianity-inspired discrimination against Buddhists. Muslims, yes, especially after 9/11, but most people are respectful of most other world religions, especially a non-confrontational one like Buddhism.
It's not as close minded as you might think. A white person in my area might get some strange looks or laughs if they announce they're a Buddhist, but not because they're viewed as a devil-worshipping anti-christ. Because they're viewed as being the same as any New Age hippie or hipster. I'm not saying it's right to oversimplify someone's religious views like that, I'm just saying that Christianity isn't really what inspires it.
Time some Western Buddhists explained the Buddhist dharma to her wayward sons?
Power and authority can lead to the very real desire to persecute the anchovy haters (as a lobster, I can barely comprehend fish haters).
As Christians, Buddhists, Moslems but above all people of good will, we can do better than throw heretics to the lions. We can be Hindu heretics like the Buddha, Judaic heretics like Christ and Pagan heretics like Mohammad. Can we stand with the dukkha laden, persecuted and generally dharmically impure?
Do you remember the Onion joke thread about 'Dharma militancy'. We are the persecutors, the persecuted and the solution.
Be kind, one day it will catch on . . .
:om:
I think not even in social studies did they spend enough time on Buddhism to convey that Buddhism comes in many flavors-- atheist, polytheistic & Pure Land. (And it was a pretty fair coverage of world religions as high school history classes go).
Most people prefer the company of people a lot like themselves. This is normal. If I
feel the pressure of proselytizing fervor I let people know I am a devoted Buddhist.
If I am perhaps a little less welcome I don't feel slighted-it is normal. I don't try to convert or do heavy preaching to those who don't ask.
I am very happy to have this group where we are pretty much in agreement with the Buddha's teachings. It's a real pleasure to speak out and be well received.
I think feeling persecuted arises from undue concern for one's own position or opinions.
I try not to get involved in that-I expect better of myself. I hope you are well received
and feel comfortable as a Buddhist. May the good be yours. Best, Dennis
will reap the fruits of the seeds that he sows.
agreed..
Although, easier said than done!
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.021x.than.html