[Buddha-l] Victimized Vegans?

[Dan Lusthaus]

> Yes, and I would go even further and say that now we understand how
markets function we can no longer condone markets ;-).

Joy,
I realize you are only partially joking, but unfortunately the
alternative(s) proved not to work at all. More to the heart of things -- 
Buddhism has only flourished in tight symbiosis and dependence on mercantile
and capitalist systems. Monasteries practiced full-fledged feudalism in
China, Korea, etc., with virtual slaves/serfs working their land for them.
Monastic wealth and monastic success are inseparable. To think otherwise is
sheer fantasy. Buddhism left India with merchants, and followed the trade
routes. It banked on karmic capital -- karmic tabulations are modeled on
mercantile accounting. One can even receive forgivable loans (called
transference of merit) like a third world nation. It has also frequently put
Buddhists in the position of kissing the ass of the wealthy and powerful.
Many of the vinaya rules were explicitly designed to do just that (including
the specific anti-meat rules). And while we enjoy the charming stories of
Zen masters standing up to samurai to earn their respect, the historical
reality is that they were in bed in with the samurai every chance they could
get (but only to try to keep up with the Jodo and Shingon groups, who were
even more efficient at currying favor). When the money went elsewhere,
Buddhists converted (e.g. in parts of Central Asia) in droves without a
glance backward. Buddhism has always followed Deep-throat's dictum: Follow
the money.

So perhaps instead of condemning "markets" in toto, a more intelligent
option would be to improve the way markets function -- regulate monopolies,
balance distributions, encourage unions or other ways of empowering workers'
bargaining ability, etc.

In today's world to do otherwise would be like spitting into the wind.

As for confession, it has more minuses than pluses, as the history of the
Catholic Church also illustrates. On the Buddhist side, history also shows
that it did little to curtail clerical misbehavior.

Dan Lusthaus