[Buddha-l] Drama

[Christopher Fynn]

Richard Hayes wrote:
> On Wednesday 19 September 2007 10:38, Christopher Fynn wrote:

>> Now I've always thought the view Stephan Beyer expressed in "The Buddhist
>> Tradition" that Buddhism is more of a performing art than it is a religion
>> or philosophy holds a lot of truth. Perhaps it would be interesting to
>> shift your courses on Buddhism to the Drama/Performing arts department of
>> your university?

> Excellent idea. Now that the American education system has managed to populate 
> most universities with students who cannot read, do math or find the planet 
> earth on a globe, professors in this country have all had to become comedians 
> and tragedians (depending on temperament). I'm meeting with the chair of the 
> philosophy department later today, and I'll suggest to him that we change the 
> name of our department to the Department of Thespian Pretensions. (Being a 
> thespian these days is almost as popular as being bisexual.)
> 

Why not suggest this include a Buddhist studies program based on lama dances, 
tea ceremonies, liturgies, Buddhist marshal arts and the like - perhaps taught 
by bisexual professors. I'm sure things like this must be very popular in 
America. You could compete with Naropa Institute for students with large trust 
funds who just want to to do something entertaining while getting the degree 
necessary to unlock those funds - and you'd even get write-ups in Tricycle.

- C