[Buddha-l] **REALLY** Western Buddhism

[Michael LaTorra]

It seems to me that to adapt Buddhism to Western culture requires a lot more 
than simply translating various writings and perhaps altering tradtional garb 
and ceremonies. The essential difference between Western culture and the 
cultures in which Buddhism incorporated itself over the past two millennia is 
this: science.

I commend the Dalai Lama for his support of scientific investigation of 
Buddhism meditation practices. He goes a long way toward showing the sort of 
openness or liberality that, in my opinion, is one of Buddhism's best 
features. However, I was disappointed to see that in his book "The Universe in 
a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality" the Dalai Lama 
declares his support for a purposeful universe that seems awfully close to 
Intelligent Design (for which scientific evidence is almost totally lacking).

Which brings me to Sam Harris. Many people -- even other atheists such as the 
Brights group co-founders -- dislike the strident, take-no-prisoners polemics 
at which Harris is so adept. Personally, I find his straightforwardness quite 
refreshing. The fact that Harris wields Okham's razor against religion like 
Mack the Knife while at the same time recognizing the empirically demonstrated 
value of meditation practices just pleases me to no end.

Perhaps I feel this way because, as a Zen priest, I am often approached by 
people who assume (wrongly) that I must be ideologically on-board with every 
cockamamy New Age nonsense that comes down the pike. I cringe. In an attempt 
to be polite, however, I seldom do more than express mild disagreement. So I 
relish Sam Harris's frontal assault on such nonsense.

As for Curt's ineffectual prayer to Kanzeon on behalf of Sam Harris, I can 
only remark: Doesn't this failure tell you something about the effectiveness 
of prayer? (See also the recent study showing that heart patients who were 
prayed for did **WORSE** than the control group.)

Regards,

Michael LaTorra

mlatorra at nmsu.edu

Department of English
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30001 MSC 3E
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001