[Buddha-l] Lamas and such

[S. A. Feite]

On Dec 4, 2009, at 1:21 AM, Franz Metcalf wrote:

> Whatever the meaning of "bla-ma" in Tibetan (thank you, Dan and Kate),
> I think the meaning in English necessarily differs, for historical
> reasons. Without being able to prove it, I assert there is no question
> the English term "Lamaism" is analogous to "Popery" and is thus
> distorted, reductive, and pejorative. Please consider the historical
> and intellectual context of the origin of this English word and apply
> a little hermeneutic of suspicion.


I do believe you nailed it. First western use of the word appears to  
be descriptive of Kalmyk converts to Christianity. By the time it was  
in use by Theosophists it had taken on the meaning of a degenerate  
form of Tibetan Buddhism, as opposed to a more pure, uncorrupted form.

Steve