Cruella Braverman...

[fozy tornip]

You ever read Christmas Humphreys' book on Zen [Buddhism]. It has its roots in Theosophy. Judge Humphreys had no qualms about putting the black handkerchief on his head.

You're saying Humphreys' take on Zen was influenced by Theosophy?

 

[Ian H]

What has its roots in Theosophy?

Traditional British Buddhism as espoused by Humphreys and others.

 

[Ian H]

Strictly, you aren't a catholic until you are baptised. It used to be that babies who were stillborn could not be buried as catholics as they weren't baptised.

Regardless, the influence of protestant vs catholic sectarianism is seen as a bad thing, and no one in the left had a problem pointing out, rightly, that Ian Paisley was a nutter, but there seems to be reticence to point out that same nuttery when it is spoused by muslims, hindus, etc. That reticence works to the detriment of communities that are labelled by their religion.

RC children are pretty much invariably baptised, but I'm talking about the sometimes stifling sense of community and the difficulty in leaving, which has an equivalence in other faiths.

On your second point: if 'Muslims, Hindus, etc.', weren't generally stigmatised and discriminated against, perhaps it would be easier to criticise individuals without invoking general wrath.

 

[fozy tornip]

Traditional British Buddhism as espoused by Humphreys and others.

Although Sangharakshita/Lingwood was for a time monk in residence in the Hampstead Vihara, run by the English Sangha Trust which grew out of that London Buddhist Society/D T Suzuki/Conze/Humphreys/Pali Text Society milieu, his FWBO was a departure from 'Traditional British Buddhism', I'd say. Defined itself very much in opposition to what preceded it, whether Blavatsky's exoticism or the reification of the monastic forms of other cultures.

 

[Ian H]

Although Sangharakshita/Lingwood was for a time monk in residence in the Hampstead Vihara, run by the English Sangha Trust which grew out of that London Buddhist Society/D T Suzuki/Conze/Humphreys/Pali Text Society milieu, his FWBO was a departure from 'Traditional British Buddhism', I'd say. Defined itself very much in opposition to what preceded it, whether Blavatsky's exoticism or the reification of the monastic forms of other cultures.

Still home-grown.

 

[C R]

On your second point: if 'Muslims, Hindus, etc.', weren't generally stigmatised and discriminated against, perhaps it would be easier to criticise individuals without invoking general wrath.

But shouldn't we call out the oppressors, whoever they are? I was reluctant to start this line of discussion because I don't want to be seen as giving ammunition to the likes of Braverman.

The difficulty I have with the reasoning above is articulated by Malik in the column I linked further up. It means that we are allowing the worst of those communities to dictate what the public image of that community is. Why do we take the mcb as some kind of community voice, but not the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain?

 

[fozy tornip]

Yes, but in some crucial ways distinct from what preceded it. Lingwood had, for example, been ordained and trained in Mahayana and Theravada traditions, had done the walking in another man's moccasins thing, had a perspective other than the somewhat theoretical and academic culture of the London Buddhist Centre scene.

 

[multitool]

Yes, but in some crucial ways distinct from what preceded it. Lingwood had, for example, been ordained and trained in Mahayana and Theravada traditions, had done the walking in another man's moccasins thing, had a perspective other than the somewhat theoretical and academic culture of the London Buddhist Centre scene.

As usual, loads to say about the tedious historical development of British Buddism but feck all idea about whether economic developments or international agreements played the greater part in the recovery of Germany during the Gustav Stresemann era.
Thicko!!

[patience Emily, now we wait and and see..]

 

[Ian H]

But shouldn't we call out the oppressors, whoever they are? I was reluctant to start this line of discussion because I don't want to be seen as giving ammunition to the likes of Braverman.

The difficulty I have with the reasoning above is articulated by Malik in the column I linked further up. It means that we are allowing the worst of those communities to dictate what the public image of that community is. Why do we take the mcb as some kind of community voice, but not the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain?

My point is that if you don't tread carefully, a denunciation can be counter-productive. But also, those communities have agency; they can deal with their affairs and choose who speaks for them.

 

[Ian H]

Yes, but in some crucial ways distinct from what preceded it. Lingwood had, for example, been ordained and trained in Mahayana and Theravada traditions, had done the walking in another man's moccasins thing, had a perspective other than the somewhat theoretical and academic culture of the London Buddhist Centre scene.

Crucial to what in the current discussion?

 

[icowden]

Strictly, you aren't a catholic until you are baptised.

Eh? But I was informed by a scholar that

"I'm a Roman Catholic. And I have been since before I were born. And the one thing they say about Catholics is, they'll take you as soon as your warm... You don't have to be a six-footer You don't have to have a great brain You don't have to have any clothes on - you're a Catholic the moment Dad came..."


View: https://youtu.be/bzVHjg3AqIQ

 

[Bromptonaut]

Judge Humphreys had no qualms about putting the black handkerchief on his head.

Did he ever pass a death sentence?

Not sure the timings work out for him to have been in a position to do so...

 

[matticus]

I was thinking more of a river metaphor where the landscape is changed and shaped by jagged edges and rough surfaces interacting. That’s what creates pools of diversity and a flourishing ecosystem, and so it is with culture.

Eddies in the space-time continuum.

 

[matticus]

On the other hand we could all be trying so hard in our posts to show that we are oh so reasonable and not prejudiced in any way, either because we have no opinions, or because we are afraid to air them for some reason, that we are perpetually sat on the fence.

Careful - if you let them know you've realised this, you may disappear very quickly ...

 

[newfhouse]

Eddies in the space-time continuum.

Just so. Disturbances in the wash.