[Buddha-l] Schopen lauded

[Weng-Fai Wong]

In Chinese Mahayana, one clear sign of the Dharma-Ending Period is when the
laity rises above the monastics.

W. F. Wong

> -----Original Message-----
> From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
> bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Blumenthal, James
> Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 1:25 AM
> To: Buddhist discussion forum
> Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Schopen lauded
> 
> The author of the article, Ajay Singh, makes an intentionally provocative
> and arrogant, yet misguided claim.  He says,
> 
> "Schopen probably knows more about classical Buddhism than the entire line
> of reincarnated Dalai Lamas."
> 
>  Schopen is a historian; the Dalai Lamas are/were not.  They are/were
> masters of their particular traditions/lineages.  Thus the claim is like
> comparing apples and oranges (not to mention that it may or may not be a
> true statement). Shall we disregard Schopen's historical work because he
> presumably does not hold a candle to the Dalai Lamas in terms of progress
> towards or achievement of enlightenment?  Obviously I do not have any
> knowledge about Schopen's religious inclinations or mental states and do
> not presume to comment on them in my analogy.  I am only attempting to
> make a point about their irrelevance for evaluating his historical work,
> much like the comparison with the Dalai Lamas that the author makes.
> 
>  Singh's statement is a good example of the type of academic arrogance
> that is so offensive to traditions (and the general public) and renders
> the academicians all but irrelevant to communities most inclined to find
> their work interesting and potentially useful.  Why somebody would insert
> such a claim into an article about academic Buddhist scholarship is
> bewildering to me.
> 
> Jim Blumenthal
> 
> 
> James Blumenthal
> Department of Philosophy
> Oregon State University
> 102-A Hovland Hall
> Corvallis, OR 97331
> 
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