[Buddha-l] Rational or mythological Buddhism and Western Buddhist lay practice

[Mikael Aktor]

I'm wondering what are the implications in terms of *Buddhist practice* 
of the ongoing discussion on tathaagatagarbha etc.?

Richard Gombrich (and Grananath Obeyesekere) raised some very 
interesting question regarding the tendency of "protestant Buddhism" in 
Sri Lanka to adopt different meditation practices, all originally part 
of a Theravaada virtuosi lifestyle. The problem, in short, is that 
meditation as part of virtuosi practice is inseparable from a virtuosi 
lifestyle (monastic, renunciate, celibate etc.), and that such practice 
when becoming part of a modern lay Buddhist lifestyle (socially and 
emotionally demanding in relation to family, job etc.) creates 
psychological stress, tensions, disappointments, and even mental problems.

I don't know whether some have developed this thought further in 
relation to Western Buddhist practice, but it would seem highly 
relevant. Many Western Buddhists are caught in a dilemma. Their 
background has made them skeptical to a mythologized Buddha, to 
ritualism and to a strongly devotional, master-disciple- and 
faith-demanding kind of Buddhism. So they seek the rational Buddhism of 
Theravaada or Soto Zen meditation centers. But most of those centers are 
well aware of Gombrich's problem, and therefore, what they offer is not 
the "full monty", but rather (to stay in this domain) a kind of coitus 
interruptus - some mindfulness and loving kindness meditation, for 
example, in the Theravaada centers, but not higher concentrations. And 
anyway, are such quietistic practices well suited to people living busy 
lives full of all the Western mental stuff like relationships, love 
affairs, career opportunities, divorces etc.? After all, no pali sources 
(as far as I am aware of) recommend meditation for lay people, but 
daana, visits to stupas and other devotional practices. But the modern 
West does not accept limitations, we demand it all: love, sex, career 
AND nirvana (or at least occasional satoris).

Suppose one is a busy Westerner, webbed in job ambitions, emotional ties 
to family, friends, former wives, present lovers, and kids from former 
marriages - but very much in favor of the rational, human Buddha that 
Dan Lusthaus commends. ;-) What kind of Buddhist practice goes with 
that? Intellectual reflection on the value of a tathaagatagarbha 
concept? What more? Or does our busy Westerner have to make the (rather 
un-Buddhist) choice that in the West Buddhism is (only) a philosophy, 
not a religious practice? Wouldn't some kind of more emotionally 
engaging practice be more adequate - even if not fully rational?

Note the success of Nichiren Buddhism in the West. I don't think it is 
only a matter of shakubuku, and neither is it only a matter of all the 
Lotus Sutra mythology (which I doubt really means very much to Western 
practitioners). But Nichiren seemed to have focused exactly on the 
question of adequate practice for lay Buddhists and came up with one 
single practice (daimoku chanting) which seems a compromise between 
meditation, ritual and prayer. Soka Gakkai added to that a system of 
mutual consultations among group members about all kinds of daily 
problems so that actual life is constantly integrated in the religious 
practice. The success of that is well described and analyzed by 
sociologists (Karel Dobbelare, Bryan Wilson, and others). For the more 
rationally and philosophically minded SG members there will be some 
intellectual camels to swallow (or leave as irrelevant), but who cares, 
if the practice is experienced as fruitful (whatever in the total 
practice-engagement-in-the-movement makes the trick)?

A rational, humanized Buddhism may be appealing for intellectual 
reasons, but what does it offer on the practical side? And if it offers 
anything, does that take Gombrich's problem about a conflict between 
virtuosi and lay lifestyles into account?

All the best,
Mikael Aktor

-- 
Mikael Aktor, Assistant Lecturer, PhD
Department of Religious Studies
University of Southern Denmark
Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Phone +45 6550 3318 / +45 3696 9054
Mobile +45 2830 7394
Web http://www.humaniora.sdu.dk/nywebX/inc/show.php?full=478 (in Danish)