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Eastern Symbolism
Thanks for adding me. Does anyone else find it difficult to relate (as I do) to the Tibetan art and culture that appears to permeate much of Buddhism? I'm a westerner and although I can appreciate it for it's beauty, it doesn't speak to me. It's not part of my "self".
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I find it more interesting than not. It does not permeate that much of Buddhism, they are just more boisterous, louder if you will. What does speak to you? :wave:
I think that the problem with Western buddhism is that it is struggling to find its identity. LOL.
Sorry…
I have integrated tibetan buddhism as well as Zen into my life - how else could I identify with all other beings in this world as being one great happy family.
You need to do something with the concept of your self - you are in the right place btw...
1. Secular Buddhism isn't where I am. I looked into it for exactly this reason but I don't identify with it.
2. What does speak to me are the artifacts of my own culture, whether these be in music, art or even food.
3. When you say you've integrated Tibetan Buddhism into your life, do you mean that you've adjusted your view of the world to more closely resemble that of a Tibetan? Or something else? Does this connect with your second sentence about doing something with the concept of one's self?
On the other hand I also had something of an affinity for symbolism, archtype and so on. As time passed I started to get a handle on what all that stuff meant. It took getting involved with the Shambhala tradition, which has a TB component, and that led to a gradual, gentle, increased understanding.
I've come to the conclusion that it's important, and this artwork - Thankas and such - contain powerful imagery that can transcend the cultural aspects of it. The truths are the same, but this kind of artwork is just another way of communicating it.
And I've come to like the look of it - the art rather than what it symbolizes.
Sanskrit mantras. I wish they were English ones. Non-linguisitic dharani are fine, because no one ever understood them. I've also read that people figure that mantras are more effective in the orthodox form.
Kanji Calligraphy Mandalas. (Gohonzon, I'm looking at you!). I don't mind mandalas that don't have any linguistic or symbolic meaning in them, and English mandalas would be fine.
My gripe in both cases is that the efficacy comes from using tools that use a prestige dialect. And it just rubs my fur the wrong way to think that salvation (of any sort) is limited to the prestigious people who use the prestigious dialect.
A picture of a Buddha in a triratna/fwbo book I read recently looked familiar... it was .. European stained glass. So the process of reshaping things to fit the west is already going on.
And you ever go to the Subway fast food chain? They sell "veggie delight", which I thought was a peculiar name. But actually, they stole it from Chinese menus that usually have a "Buddha's Delight" (Chinese Buddhists are hard core vegetarians), but since they couldn't have the B word, we get a now thoroughly invisible, Buddhism inspired sandwich name.
I've only been practicing Buddhism for a few years now, but I've totally avoided all the Vajrayana stuff because it doesn't speak to me. I've never had to struggle with trying to identify with it since I was immediately drawn to Theravada and Zen Buddhism. I hardly even notice Tibetan Buddhism's influence, except when trying to find a sangha that isn't Tibetan (thanks HHDL
Do you identify with Vajrayana Buddhism and find the Tibetan aspects problematic? You may want to look into other schools if that's not the case.
In answer to 3. I am open-minded, I am not Tibetan, but there are wisdom teachers in tibetan buddhism, that you get or you don't, if you don't then you are not ready for tibetan buddhism, if you do, then it will resonate with you.
In answer to your question of connection with the above point - yes it does.
I don't think this necessarily hinders my practice except that I'm really not in any position to say that it doesn't - I just don't know enough. What I will say is that art of any sort is able to convey ideas and substance in ways that words can't. Ergo, I must be missing out on something because I don't understand the art as well as I might understand western art.
And if mantras are more effective in their original language as someone suggests here, why is that so? The Christians have used chanting in European languages for centuries and according to their adherents these have power. So isn't it possible for (say) Tibetan mantras to be translated into English - obviously this would need to be done in such a way that not only the words, but also the power is translated.
You said @colinmcgee: What I will say is that art of any sort is able to convey ideas and substance in ways that words can't. Ergo, I must be missing out on something because I don't understand the art as well as I might understand western art.
Sometimes art conveys much more than any book - I have sat and meditated in a tibetan shrine alone and gently taken in the symbolism of it all - the offerings, the mandalas, the peace and quiet, the statue, and 'bang!" like a bullet ricocheting through my skull, it struck mewas there, I was there - not I but "I", and now I am here. Thank you for reminding me.
You also say: And if mantras are more effective in their original language as someone suggests here, why is that so?
Because if you don't know the meaning of the words, your present awareness is not tainted by preconceptions of your own language.
OM MANI PADME HUM
yep about to meditate to this - btw my kids have been so accustomed to me chanting this mantra that they do it with me...
They are and have been. Some western groups do already chant in English.
Heart Sutra
Not sure if it was the heart sutra - but will look a little deeper :om:
so no you are not alone nor should you feel you have to feel this way.