[Buddha-l] A lecture by Richard Gombrich

[Randall Jones]

Joanna, I too left being a Christian, but returned a couple of years 
ago. I'm a member now of United Church of Christ which I suppose 
could be described as fairly latitudinarian, and which certainly is 
active concerning issues of social justice. I'm still a real Buddhist 
though, and feel no conflict whatsoever. At breakfast after church a 
couple of weeks ago I said something to which my minister replied, 
"That is very Buddhist." I guess she has my number too.

Randall

At 09:40 PM 11/11/2011, Jo wrote:
>Hi Randall,
>
>I found myself agreeing with him too, and also recalling why I left being a
>Christian--because of what I saw as the hypocrisy of churches and their
>congregations and all the mumbo jumbo. I was pleased to note that Gombrich
>doesn't care all that much for ritual.
>I also began wondering yet again on the whys of the evangelicals and other
>versions of Christianity that are so hooked on ceremony and various taboos,
>and it dawned on me what he also said (no doubt said many times by many
>others, but sometimes one needs a certain text and moment to really 'get'
>something)--that all those Christians whom I disregarded were just looking
>for a benevolent parent, father or mother, to comfort them--that we all
>crave comfort in a harsh world. He's right, I think, that the same motive
>affects people in the other universal religions.
>Once when I was in Bangkok photographing decorated trucks, and asked my Thai
>friend what the inscriptions on the painted and carved board over the top of
>the cabs said, he replied, They say 'O Mother'......and then ask for
>blessings. The image on these headboards was always the Buddha, under the bo
>tree.  In India poor people used to say of a benefactor--a patron, a swami--
>he is my maa-baap--my mother and father.
>
>Your story of the Thai monk is touching and instructive.
>Gombrich seemed to me to be appealing to the Thai sangha as an organisation.
>His criticism seemed to be addressed to the institutional, public roles they
>often play, or don't avail of sufficiently to preach the dhamma, rather than
>as criticism of monks or Thai Buddhism in general.
>
>Again, I thought as I read this, that's what I always thought was so
>disappointing about our church organisations and ministers. That was back in
>the forties. Then, nobody dared to oppose WW2 or the later Korean war. Many
>of the more latitudinarian churches and fellowships have changed since then,
>of course. Some of them as well as a few Buddhists try to fight the death
>penalty. Some here are demonstrating against an upcoming state execution.
>
>Thanks for sharing your Thai experience.
>Joanna
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On Behalf Of Randall Jones
>Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 6:56 PM
>
>
>Thank you, Joanna, for this link to a very worthwhile read. I found myself
>agreeing with most of the points made.
>
>I was just revisiting the who-is-a-Buddhist discussion in my mind yesterday
>and remembering years ago when I was wondering if I was a "real Buddhist." I
>made an appointment with a Thai monk at the Thai Temple just outside New
>York and we talked about this. I got the feeling that he thought the
>question was little silly, but even so, he told me that usually a few things
>happened - talking about the dharma with a Buddhist teacher/monk, taking
>refuge, sitting together.
>(He also shared a few fascinating stories about some renowned western
>teachers who had ordained in Thailand.) On the train ride back into the city
>I realized that we had done those things he described as how one usually
>became Buddhist. I was rather surprised and also amused at how natural,
>organic, it had been and how little ritualistic. The monk that I talked with
>also offered to sponsor my ordination in Bangkok where I was shortly
>traveling, but I decided against that.
>
>I share this because my experience was so different from what Gombrich
>relates. Perhaps the Thai temple did not have a big outreach program, but
>certainly they were open to non-Thais, tfluent in English, and more than
>ready to talk and make one feel welcome - and even feel a real Buddhist.
>
>Randall
>
>
>
>At 06:49 PM 11/11/2011, Jo wrote:
> >Recently the question, who (or what?) is a Buddhist was discussed here.
> >Gombrich has some provocative and, IMHO, worthwhile ideas to offer on
> >the question.
> >
> >Joanna
> >
> >
> >
> >http://www.ocbs.org/lectures-a-articles-ocbsmain-121/144-comfort-or-cha
> >lleng
> >e
> >
> >
> >
> >To access page 2, do not use the Next link-go back to the top of the
> >page and click on Page2, etc.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >buddha-l mailing list
> >buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> >http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
>_______________________________________________
>buddha-l mailing list
>buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
>http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
>_______________________________________________
>buddha-l mailing list
>buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
>http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l