Comments on: Making Sense of Buddhist Texts http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/ My life as a father, Buddhist, Japanophile and Koreaphile. Tue, 29 May 2012 07:24:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1640 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:39:28 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1640 You too. :)

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1639 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:34:00 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1639 Hi,

I think we’re both singing from the same hymn sheet on this one, LOL, and thank you again for a great post and for the interesting little discussion.

All the best,

Marcus

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1638 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:20:34 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1638 Excellent points all. I guess the problem isn’t so much differences in imagery between various religions, but more the surface-level, apathetic appreciation some followers or critics may have. You’re right in that if one delves into the Bible’s imagery more, one would find a lot there (I do actually remember a small number of Bible verses from the Gospels myself that serve as practical Buddhist teachings ;) ). That’s where Bible study or (Buddhist) Sutra study becomes helpful and essential. I am annoyed with intellectuals who insist Buddhist culture has corrupted Buddhist religion, as well as recent Western Buddhist “reform” movements, rather than with sincere Christians who’ve put the time and effort into Bible study and put the teachings into practice. The former reflects spiritual immaturity, while the latter reflects more maturity.

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1637 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:04:29 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1637 Hi,

Yes, I see what you mean – I think.

The Bible is packed full of imagery and metaphor and poetry. And not just the Old Testament. Take a lok at the final bok of the New Testament. It is also there throughout the gospels too. Poetry, stories, imagery, was the very laguage of Jesus.

And so this continues to infuse the religion up to this very day. Clear, like you say, in Catholic countries – and what a great Catholicism you have there in Ireland – but in all Christian churches.

As you, Doug, explain the Buddhist Sutras to people without a lifelong background in Buddhism, I could imagine exactly the same process going on in the other direction. I can imagine a non-Christian from a mainly non-Christian country first coming across the Bible or any Christian text from even the most protestant group and having it explained to them in much the same way.

Just as you need to explain long tongues and bumps on heads, the protestant explaining Christianity to the non-Christian would need to explain the significance of doves, immersion in water, the sharing of blood and bread.

As you say, “difficult descriptions, or seemingly fantastic imagery”.

It’s not a big point, it’s just that because we have that background in Christianity we often miss just how rich in poetry and imagery and layers of meaning it actually is. Every bit as much as in Buddhism or any other religion.

All the best again mate,

Namu Kwan Seum Bosal,

Marcus

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1636 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:49:45 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1636 Hm, you have a good point. The Bible has lots of imagery that, upon closer examination, does say quite a bit more than people may first believe. But, I was not speaking about the Bible, but rather how it’s expressed in various cultures, particularly Western Protestant cultures, which tend to be more subdued than other Christian sects. Having grown up in the US as a Mormon, and now being in Catholic Ireland, I can see the difference.

The point being is that our culture likes our religious explanations to be straightforward, where the Indian/Buddhist texts are not straightforward, and assume a lot of phrases that no longer give the same impression they once did at the time of composition. Looking at the Old Testament in the Bible (especially the first few books), this is probably true as well, until you study the Bible, trying to find out the meaning behind them. :)

]]> By: Marcus http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/03/03/making-sense-of-buddhist-texts/#comment-1635 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:22:20 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=3319#comment-1635 Hi Doug,

Great post, thank you.

May I just add something that may also help?

Although you mention ” the dry textbook sense we’re used to in Protestant Western culture” I’m not so sure that religious texts, in western protestantism or any other broad religious category, is actually all that dry and textbook-like.

Rather than the Buddhist sutras being elaborate and poetic in contrast to Christian dryness, I think in fact the Buddhist sutras are elaborate and poetic JUST LIKE Christian texts also are.

The Buddha has a long tongue. Christ is the lamb of God. The Pure Land is covered with jewels, Jesus ascended in light and glory, or something like that, – do you see my point?

Anyway, thank you again for an excellent post.

Namu Amitabul,

Marcus

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