[Buddha-l] All is one

[Jayarava]

I confess myself to be suspicious of the "all is one, god is good" branch of religion. Although the same trend exists in many societies, not the least the in India, it seems to me that it is problematic.

Not being a floater myself I don't have much personal experience - although I do take seriously Richard's engagement with Quakerism and some of the anecdotal evidence that has been presented by him and others. But I wonder if it means that we westerners are simply redefining religion to suit our *individualistic* selves? Or maybe that's what we've always done, maybe that's what religion is? Personally I don't think I have the religious genius required to (re)define a religion. I'm daily (hourly even) reminded that so far my will has not been a reliable guide to life. And while I see value in aspects of other traditions I don't think they are all saying the same thing. 

It may be a moot point, but the west generally strikes me as being in a crisis of faith, confused about values, and ambivalent about virtues to the point of lauding vice. The crisis seems to be fostering fundamentalism on the one hand, and anything goes on the other. Eternalism and nihilism. Interfaith dialogue takes place in this atmosphere - even intrafaith dialogue. 

I would say that anyone who thinks of themselves of both a Buddhist and a Christian (or whatever) has simply failed to understand either tradition. Call me cynical, but the only way I can imagine this coming about is through superficiality and confusion. At the level of ethics there is much overlap, but beyond that I just don't see it. Some one's bound to take this personally - sorry, put it down to lack of imagination on my part.

Having said this I have to acknowledge that many contemporary forms of Buddhism do resemble in form what I see in Christian worship - a minimal engagement by lay people who merely hope for something better in the next world (whatever that may be), and a reliance on other power being the central feature of the religion as it is practised.

The discussion so far smacks of "baby boomer". My generation didn't have peace and love, we had the 1980's with all that that implies. Sigh. 


tat tvaṃ n'asti
Jayarava