The Influence of Buddhism on the West

Venerable Ajahn Punnadhammo, Brian, and I have already discussed the influence of the west, but this time we go in the opposite direction.
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[@yugaoo]

Did you notice that when a bad thing happens to you,people say

[@xXKillaBGXx]

Nirvana band Rage Against the Machine album cover

[@FRED-gx2qk]

Thank you always a pleasure 🤗

[@Countcordeaux]

Tbh I think that Dharma is ultimately going to have to integrate elements of both Christianity and Greco-Roman aesthetics (as happened in the Indo-Greek kingdoms) in order to take root in the West more deeply, both without compromising the principles of Dharma practice. This probably means something that looks like Mahayana, and I have heard Mahayana referred to before as "Buddhism for export".

[@Countcordeaux]

That being said it won't be a continuation of any particular Asian Mahayana tradition, and I would like it to be more firmly rooted in the suttas, but something which speaks Dhamma in the language of western sensibilities.

[@rakkhasa]

Regarding what the Ajahn said about enemies in video games, it's worth noting a lot of games are made in Japan, so a lot of Buddhist (and Shinto) iconography comes in because that's what the developers grew up with. One interesting one: if you've played Mario 3, there's a powerup where he turns into an invincible statue. The statue is based on the image of Ksitigarbha, a Mahayana bodhisattva.

[@Jeepneyko]

Benedict’s monasticism came from the the Cassian’s “Conferences”. He’s referring to him and the dessert fathers as the Masters, I dont think it’s Buddhism, or that was we’re taught. Haha

[@athenassigil5820]

Mindfulness is big, but amongst the elites. Also the image of the meditating Buddha icon in films, record album covers and in popular culture in general.....but it's all very....superficial.

[@pannobhasa]

In the past Buddhism appears to have spread to other cultures mainly by, at first, converting the elites. Unlike Christianity, which appears to have spread first among the slaves and second class citizens. At least in ancient times.

[@athenassigil5820]

@@pannobhasa In the early years of Christianity, yes...but if you continue into the early medieval era, it was mostly the kingly class who'd convert and then enforce the religion on their population. You're very much right about buddhism, from Ashoka in India to much later in Burma, Tibet and Japan. The elites embraced Buddhism, probably because of their monastic influences with writing and organization. I'd say though, that it became even more popular with the laity when reformed groups like Pureland, who were more of a syncretism....they weren't really Buddhist, but a mishmash of idealistic Bodhisatva worship and Shintoism. You just had to chant a sacred word and off to paradise you'd go. Peasants would completely favor that outcome, over a strict observation of kamma and your current standing in life.

[@Countcordeaux]

The mindfulness taught in corporate / MBSR settings is simply not sati as taught by the Buddha and amounts to little more than an anaesthetic for people living unfulfilling lives.

[@Arjunarjunskiy]

26:00 he is talking about Kalmykia, a "Buddhist" republic within the Russian Federation. They are geographically located in Europe but ethnically are closer to Mongols. Buddhism there is indeed the main religion but the vast majority of the population doesn't practice it at all. It's mostly an irreligious region like most other regions of Russia. Feels deeply god-forsaken and looks rundown. Crime rates there are also rather high. Also, Kalmyks live there not because of Stalin but because of empress Ekaterina II who invited them in the XVIII century to become a buffer and keep the Muslims of the Caucasus at bay.

[@humwawa3468]

Inputs from Far-Eastern thinking has helped Western thinkers transcend the limitations of traditional Western thought to arrive at new scientific models like quantum physics. As far as Buddhism as a religious practice, it's largely been a failure. Westerners are mostly interested in using Buddhism for their own personal profit.

[@Countcordeaux]

This is sadly true, largely because most westerners are either nihilistic or think that heaven is good enough. They don't see the problem of samsara.

[@MK-gn1nz]

Greeks also influenced Buddhists with regard to statues, imagery etc though not probably what Buddha wanted

[@wyrdflex5863]

There are some subtle placements you can find in the media. It's a rare occasion, but every now and then a show or a movie let's slip some dharmic ideas. Finding these is about the only reason I bother with watching any kind of entertainment.

[@wyrdflex5863]

This is to say nothing of workman's dharma, too, you know. But that bears no repeating for a sheet metal dude!

[@weekonefitness8338]

To me, Stoicism looks like a Western copy of Buddhism.

[@pannobhasa]

Classical Cynicism, which was the forerunner of Stoicism, came even closer to Buddhism.

[@Countcordeaux]

Not sure if Kalmykia counts as Europe, but it is part of the Russian Federation. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmykia I think there is another historically Buddhist region of Russia as well.

[@naturecure280]

Kalmykia Buddhism is Vajrayana tibetan buddhist sects. Gelugpa, Dzogchen etc. Far from original Buddha's teachings. Mahayana started 1000 years after Buddhas parinibbana. Vajrayana established from Mahayana. Vajarayana has many sects, that mixed up with local shamanism and hinduism. Kalmykia took their Buddhism from Mongolia. Mongolians took it from Tibet in 1300, 1400 which is Gelugpa. So...