[Buddha-l] Glass bhumi - was Denigrating Buddhism

[Alex Wilding]

Hi Andy,
Yes, I understand now. I tend to blindly assume that people with an interest
in Buddhism are fellow Buddhists.

> Do you _look_ Buddhist?    (a poor attempt at humor.)
I didn't used to, but I started keeping the yogi's hair vow a few years ago,
and since it got long enough to wear in a top-knot I think I do. Though most
people, I'm sure, think it just looks stupid. Perhaps the difference is more
subtle than one might think.

(PS The split infinitive is often underrated.)
All the best
Alex W

-----Original Message-----
From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com
[mailto:buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of andy
Sent: Friday, 19 August 2011 11:14 AM
To: Buddhist discussion forum
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Glass bhumi - was Denigrating Buddhism

> Andy wrote:
> > Contempt?  Well, yes, if it is deserved.  And there is
> > much in the tradition called Buddhism to be contemptible
> > of. But of course we can save the tradition by identifying
> > those contemptible things as "not real Buddhism".  The
> > problem is, as western selves, we have no right to do so.
> > Or so I am lead to believe.
> 
> Can you shed light on this puzzle for me? Does being born and educated in
> the heart of England make me somehow less of a Buddhist? I have less
> authority? Less knowledge? Less insight? Less compassion? Is there a glass
> bhumi that bars the way to someone with my western roots, but easily
> passed by someone born east of say, Kabul? (And north of the Timor Sea and
> west of Hawaii, of course.) Please explain.
> All the best
> Alex W
> 

Hi, Alex!   Well I am not a Buddhist, so I was only speaking of myself.  
And inadvertently using some kind of imperial "we".   I was reacting to 
charges of Saidian Orientalism by those who maintain that that Buddhism, in 
its historical cultural context, was not necessarily a religion of peace.  

So I don't know.   Do you _look_ Buddhist?    (a poor attempt at humor.)

Best wishes, 

-- 
James Andy Stroble
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