Unfortunately, this is a temptation with any religion. While I no longer practice Buddhism, as an Orthodox Christian I encounter many seeking after “the historical Jesus” or “Jesus the teacher.” Most of Western Christiandom has discarded the asceticism and mysticism that is an essential element of the early Church of the Apostles, and now, going even further, many are discarding the core dogmas of Christianity, yet trying to present it as Christian (and even worse, as how the early Church “really was before it was corrupted”). This is the same as Buddhists who are trying to discard the so-called “cultural” aspects of Buddhism. From my experience of this, I can emphasize with Suzuki-roshi’s outrage. To experience this depth and beauty and to see people discarding it as if it is some useless accretion fills one with sorrow.

Unfortunately, in our modern world most are seeking after consumerist “spirituality”: the goal is religion-as-a-tool-for-myself… which necessarily means that one has to discard various “inconvenient” points of each religion, taking up a la carte only the points that have particular resonance with a person’s aesthetic preferences. To actually recognize truth necessarily means that one must change in accordance with that insight, and for a society which seeks after the freedom of “do what you will,” exalting the ego in hedonism, the idea of recognizing truth-outside-of-us seems like slavery, not liberation.

The problem for many lies in seeing the truth outside of and beyond us, be it the Four Noble Truths or the Gospel of Christ or whatever truth-claims each particular religion makes. The fact that these claims lie outside of us and exist regardless of how we feel about them poses a great challenge to people conditioned by cultural relativism, more properly termed nihilism: we are told to believe what feels good, as long as you don’t really believe in it as truth (because then, someone else might have to change!) This consumerist approach to religion is what results in both the watering down of religions and the development of religious syncretism that you mention.

We must respond with humility and gentleness that guides yet also with firmness and conviction to truth: and by this I mean not only what is really true (individual truths), but even the very notion of the existence of Truth. Otherwise, anything goes in the realm of belief, and religion will simply become another tool for self-gratification, enslavement, and all sorts of other terrible things.

Of course Buddhism is a religion – you just have to walk into any temple in any Buddhist country to see that! And, like you, that’s the Buddhism I love.

But, you know, I (half-grudgingly admit!) there is room in this big old Buddhist world for the ‘philosophical Buddhists’ too. (The name Steven Batchelor springs to mind.)

I suppose too that many western converts such as ourselves start out with the ‘it’s just a philosohy’ approach and then, later, start seeing the depth that you’re talking about.

Anyhow – great post! Thank you!

Metta,

Marcus

Exactly. It’s insulting to the religion in question to say “I live by the teachings of X” because the question arises, “well, what’s wrong with the rest of it?”

People say “well, I don’t agree with the followers”, but that’s the challenge of a religion: to learn to get along with others in a religious community. If you cop-out and follow things from a distance, you’re only selling yourself short.

I often encounter the same thing: “Buddhism isn’t a religion, it’s a philosophy.” Well, it’s a religion that HAS a philosophy, but then again, most religions do. I also live by the notion that you should treat others as you want them to treat you (ahem, thanks Jesus), because that’s a great moral philosophy to live by; but I certainly don’t consider myself Christian because there’s a lot more to “being” a Christian than just living by something someone said.

I’ve had similar conversations around “spiritual, not religious” but I’ll not go there today. Today (of all days) I’ll just say I’m grateful for what I’ve learned being a Buddhist, and surrounding myself with other Buddhists.

Thanks as always for a great post!

Followed a link from lotusinthemud, I can see why she is a fan