Woke Buddhism Must GO! 

When I went to sesshin in San Diego (90s) the first few times, I was surprised to find people of different political beliefs. The politics came up when the sesshins were over, and I'd be talking to some others who were waiting to leave or staying overnight. I was actually shocked that there were so many extreme political views. However, we had sat and meditated together for a week. These political moments taught me that Zen Buddhism was about self-discovery/personal growth and more importantly raising ourselves beyond the petty human differences that hurt one another.

Thank you for being one of the only voices in "western buddhism" who believes Buddhism should be the focus and western is simply the culture in which its understood. Many friends have been interested in the path until they read some of the more popular publication topics which focus on the wrong thing. Grateful you post frequently to remind me some people do protect the dharma, and do so with a great sense of humor and musical taste.

I pretty much had to leave a temple because another member there would harass me consistently about climate change, which he wanted to be the focus on every Dharma talk.

Bravo. If Buddhism just becomes an outlet for us to argue politics we'll never get any sitting done.

If we’re vowing to save all sentient beings, we’re vowing to save ALL sentient beings … period.

100% agree. The deeper I get into Zen, the less I appreciate politics being infused into practice.

Hi Brad! I largely agree. I find it deeply concerning how many convert Buddhist communities package together the teachings interchangeably with social issues, or issues of psychological health and well being. Not to say those aren't important topics in their own right. But teaching the Buddhadharma, and creating communities for people to practice should always be the primary concern. Buddhadharma is important and interesting enough that it can stand on its own merit!

As a leftist, I agree we need to keep politics away from Buddhism. Even if I agree with the general points from the intro, it sounds tasteless and inappropriate for a book on Buddhism. The Middle Path I see here, then, is indicating that Buddhism accepts people of all races, sexes, genders, and sexualities. That is positive and does not veer off into the territory of negative criticism, which is what really turns people away. Harsh critique is not very Buddhist at all.

Having practiced in the Bay Area for many years, I have had to put up with this constantly, and it drives me crazy too! Even a mildly worded suggestion that we not hold fixed views and try to understand the worldview of others is met with strong objections and suspicion as to what my secret motives might be :-/

Ummm. Did anyone ever hear of the Middle Way?

It's finished. My new dharma name is forever now "Chuck" 🤣

I'm glad I go to a center where pretty much nobody talks about Anything political. Everything focuses on the practice.

Brad, you make some good points here, especially about silly accusations of cultural appropriation. Still, as a leftist, I found it grating. If I was a conservative, or right wing, or a MAGA type, I would love it. One thing: a while back I was listening to a lecture of yours, and I'm pretty sure it was from the Angel City Zen podcast. In the talk you mentioned how there are many people in American Buddhist circles who claim that US Zen culture is too homogeneously white and upper class, and how we should work to make it more diverse. You then said that you thought that this sentiment was ridiculous. Then you described mentioning this to either your wife or girlfriend, who I think you said was Mexican, saying to her, "Can you imagine your relatives ever being into Zen?" and you both had a good laugh. That's my recollection. So then--if my memory is correct--you think, for whatever reason, it's silly for American Zen culture to try to be more inclusive of non-white people. At the same time, you ridicule American Zen culture for being so left-wing that it alienates more centrist or conservative leaning people. I think that if you were first and foremost concerned about Zen culture surviving in America, as you claim you are, you would celebrate and encourage all efforts to include people of color, as well as to have the ultra-left politics reigned in a bit. Then again, "punching left" makes for better social-media theater.

I went to a zendo in NYC several years back. The mailing list asked "do you identify as a POC? and "do you identify as LGBTQ?" Isn't "identifying" the opposite of what we're doing in practice?

The straightforward buddhist practicality"put your oxygen mask on first before helping others" has slowly been metastasizing into "make sure you are putting the right brand of oxygen mask on"

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm sure you know, but you are not alone. There are a lot of us out there.

Sometimes you get more clarity than you bargained for I went on a vipassana retreat. Felt super turned off by the organization offering up times for people of certain identity groups to go sit together. I didn’t attend the special sessions that I “qualified” for, and have not gone back or donated since because of that part of the experience. Insight… or indoctrination? Other than that… great practice!!! The meditation technique has been a very helpful tool.

Thank you for this one. This is Zen in Portland as well… go figure. It’s so repulsive how these zen centers have been operating.

Does the book yell or was that added for effect?

Well said. When the Buddha left the palace and saw the ways of human suffering his impulse was not to start a political party or lobby regional governments for policy change. This fact must piss certain people off A LOT.

Pretty unhinged reaction to a book intro

Thanks once again for being the voice of reason. More, please!!!

Here's the thing though dude. Real talk. Longtime Buddhist here, been on years of retreat, transmissions, etc., etc., Yes, calling a Dharma name and such "cultural appropriation" is nonsense... BUT (and here's the Buddhist part), real talk: BUDDHISM says that the cause of suffering is clinging, and AVERSION. This is some hardcore aversion of yours. If you're massively triggered by an intro, that's just klesha like any other. I'm not saying there aren't idiots on both the left and the right. There sure as hell are. But being AVERSE to some silly introduction by some random dude, is just as much aversion as any other kind. Now, I AGREE: Buddhism needs to appeal to the cowboys and truck drivers, and blue collar people as well. But you know, this is what happens when you read "Barns and Noble" Buddhism books. Okay like go read any book by some Rinpoche and you're not going to get that. And honestly? I gotta tell ya, this has a lot less to do with "Buddhism" in America, and a lot more to do with the weirdness of American Zen. You don't see a lot of this in Vajrayana. Yes, people have conversations about stuff when it comes up, people might want to talk about what's going on in Gaza or when George Floyd happens, I mean that was a huge world-changing event. It was everywhere, the whole world was talking about it, and Buddhism doesn't shy away from current events. Climate Change is a huge thing, and so part of compassion means lots of people care very deeply about the planet, and our impact on it and other people, and animals. That's just part of being a Bodhisattva. BUT, not every Buddhist Sangha is so focused on politics. Really, I have seen most of that in Zen communities. Go to a Nyingma , or Sakya, temple, or Bön temple or most Vajrayana temples (not Shambhala) and people are going to be primarily focusing Tantric practice, and not the trauma-dramas of the world. I really do think that Zen Buddhism in a lot of America has some serious issues, no offense intended, but a lot of it practically isn't even "Buddhism" anymore from my perspective, and has little to do with the Four Noble Truths anymore, and is mostly just secular meditation. Almost a kind of "new Dharmic religion". But I digress.

I’m from Tennessee. Never seen a temple here that requires a mask. The ones in my city are majority Lao and Viet. Might just be a california/New York thing. The monastery in Atlanta that I’ve attended doesn’t have much in the way of politics either.

Extremes suck. Having said that, most Buddhist centers aren’t Brooklyn/la/or Austin and very few have as much of the gatekeeping you refer to here. As usual, the non-attention seeking majority exists quietly while the tiny but loud minority gets a lot of press and on a lot of nerves. I try to mind my business and do my best. If a group I wanted to sit with made some weird restrictions (of any kind) I’d just nope out and go do my thing elsewhere.

Sitting with Brad Warner's talk for a few days- letting the mud settle - a few questions remain. They are related to the underlying motivation for voicing his concerns that Brad Warner expresses, namely that American Buddhism might perish if it gets hijacked by left wing political posturing. If I take these concerns at face value, I have to ask with all sincerity: What does the decline and death of Buddhism in America, or indeed in the West, or even in the world at large, have to do with zen practice? Is it part of Zen practice to work for the growth and success of Buddhism?

You have some very valid points. Things I have struggled with myself and why I practice by myself. However, maybe the easiest way to handle it is to let go, detach, even if some things are getting extreme, they will pass, and the next fad will take its place, and we'll still be here, sitting quietly!

The culture war is a bore

You are one of a kind Brad! Love the music video and talk.

What i got from this all is that these comments help me see why not speaking ill of Sangha is one of the percepts. Thank you all for the continued lessons.

This is why I, an Orthodox Christian, love your stuff, Brad. You just give straight Zen, without the baggage of disafffected holdovers from the Beatnik generation. If I ever get a psych client who's interested in Zen, I'm sending them to your stuff.

It's ironic how political your argument against the politicization of Buddhism comes across. I can understand your annoyance: listening to someone rant about a woke, leftist agenda or a right-wing, fascist agenda, or indeed any kind of sinister seeming agenda, is certainly off-putting.

Thank you for this video!

Thank you Brad, you always have a way of saying what needs to be said! Love the wild flowers in the background!

Those three paragraphs hit every political key word imaginable... wow. this is what happens when engaged Buddhism morphs into just 'enraged Buddhism'...

Brad- thank you ! So glad that you are doing your best to point out how easily people and especially ‘organizations’ of any stripe get led away from the primary purpose of human introspection. Just exactly WHO is it that makes all these claims?

Brad, I agree with you. You are 100% correct... perhaps just sit and chill for a bit. Sit and write a new book about it. Cant wait to read it.

Thank you for this! I've thought many times of asking you about how to deal with/work with all the mayhem here and the world at large. I don't want to live in a Buddhist serenity bubble. I want to live in the real world, but the suffering and fighting going on is at times too much to bear. Avalokiteśvara is crying. This moment seems so ripe with potential... but I still can't see the way.

Here's a question for you all: what is "woke"?

I really love your Books😊 thanks for the Videos

Thank you Brad!

THANK YOU! Thank you for saying this. I have read and studied Buddhist texts, particularly of the Chinese Buddhist traditions (Chan/Pure Land texts) and have been associated with Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist organizations, people, etc. and never does politics run into Buddhism. Especially in Chan (Zen) , the whole idea is to realize non-self, and often times in the West I see them studying Buddhism for self-reinforcement. Politics, in several Mahayana and Theravada texts is specifically looked up in a bad view and something to stay away from as it reinforces self, separation, and thus suffering. Division in the guise of equanimity, self reinforcing and particular choosing of whom to love in the guise of all pervading compassion, non self in the guise of self, what a pity. Politics should stay out of Buddhism, and religion in general in that regard. As you say indeed, eastern Buddhist, if they have any political ideals at all would be considered right-wing if at all, in American terms. Master Sheng Yen, Master Chin Kung, etc. carry conservative values in TERMS OF American political ideals. But again, why even bother with that? Religion should be kept out of politics especially if you are trying to let go of division, which politics does so well at. It is all still partial compassion, as they will hate the right-winged people. And vice versa. It’s still centered around self, the very thing that keeps one from realizing the deathless. Think id end it off with some direct textual citing on politics: Brahmajala Sutta 1.17. "Or he might say: 'Whereas some recluses and brahmins, while living on the food offered by the faithful, engage in frivolous chatter, such as: talk about kings, thieves, and ministers of state; talk about armies, dangers and wars; talk about food, drink, garments, and lodgings; talk about garlands and scents; talk about relatives, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and talk about heroes; street talk and talk by the well; talk about those departed in days gone by; rambling chit-chat; speculations about the world and about the sea; talk about gain and loss - the recluse Gotama abstains from such frivolous chatter.'[2] 1.18. "Or he might say: 'Whereas some recluses and brahmins, while living on the food offered by the faithful, engage in wrangling argumentation, (saying to one another): "You don't understand this doctrine and discipline. I am the one who understands this doctrine and discipline." - "How can you understand this doctrine and discipline?" - "You're practising the wrong way. I'm practising the right way." - "I'm being consistent. You're inconsistent." - "What should have been said first you said last, what should have been said last you said first." - "What you took so long to think out has been confuted." - "Your doctrine has been refuted. You're defeated. Go, try to save your doctrine, or disentangle yourself now if you can" - the recluse Gotama abstains from such wrangling argumentation.' - Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said: "It is the great merciful and compassionate heart, the impartial heart, the motionless heart, the unpolluted and unattached heart, the emptiness [non-self] observing heart, the respectful heart, the humble heart, the uncluttered heart, the non-view and non-grasping heart, and the uppermost Bodhi-Heart. You should know that such hearts are the feature and characteristics of this Dharani, you should practice according to them." (Great Compassionate Dharani Sutra). [The same sutra speaks of protection from political views] - “Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people.” (Magandiya Sutta) - "Furthermore, Subhuti, in the practice of compassion and charity a disciple should be detached. That is to say, he should practice compassion and charity without regard to appearances, without regard to form, without regard to sound, smell, taste, touch, or any quality of any kind. Subhuti, this is how the disciple should practice compassion and charity. Why? Because practicing compassion and charity without attachment is the way to reaching the Highest Perfect Wisdom, it is the way to becoming a living Buddha. (Diamond Sutra Chapter 4.1) "Furthermore, Subhuti, all dharmas are equal, none is superior or inferior. This is called unsurpassed complete enlightenment. When one cultivates all good without the notions of a self, a person, a sentient being, or a lifespan, one attains unsurpassed complete enlightenment. Subhuti, the Tathagata teaches that good is not good, therefore it is good." (Diamond Sutra Chpt 23) - Radiate boundless love towards the ENTIRE world - above, below, and across - unhindered, without ill will, without enmity. - Gautama Buddha, Metta Sutta

that rant is why i subscribe

Brad... I appreciate this video. It rings true in my experience. I am a longtime Zen practitioner. Started formal practice in Eido Roshi’s lineage in 1986. Several years later moved over the Suzuki Roshi/SFZC lineage. My experience in these two linages was wonderful and nourishing. However, I left the American Zen mainstream in the early 2000’s for two main reasons, one of which was the growing politicalization of the major American Buddhist Sanghas. It made me so sad to see this happening. I am now part of a small, out-of-the-mainstream, Sangha in central Virginia that includes an urban practice group and also a small rural retreat center. We are mostly Zen but with some Advaita Vedanta and J. Krishnamurti thrown in, as well as body-based support practices such as yoga, tai chi, and Continuum Movement. We have stayed solidly non-political. One of the most important things you said was about how for Buddhism to flourish in America it needs to move into the working class, to the average folk of America…. carpenters, truck drivers, HVAC technicians, mechanics, schoolteachers, etc. We feel kind of isolated out here and would be interested in forming some sort of loose confederation of non-political American Buddhist Sanghas if there is any interest out there. Also, you correctly noted that the Buddhism broadly practiced across the globe tends towards being somewhat conservative (in the original meaning of the word). My experience exactly. I know many Asian-American Buddhists who brought their Buddhism here from their home country and practice in predominately Asian-American Sanghas (which also function as Asian cultural and family centers) and they are politically centrist to moderate conservative - nothing liberal, progressive, or “woke” about them.

"However much love and pity we may feel in our present lives, it is hard to save others as we wish; hence, such compassion remains unfulfilled. " -- Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu (Shin Pure Land Buddhism)

Wokeness is the discriminating-mind’s pretense at being ‘compassionate.’ Judging others as doing wrong is their primary means of doing the right thing. & Does anyone actually think the Japanese never appropriated another culture’s culture? How dare Dogen appropriate Caodong Chan!

Brad thinks he's an iconoclast, but the story of a white guy getting more conservative as he ages is a very common one

I’m becoming introduced to Buddhist practice in a Buddhist recovery group. The first 10 minutes was spent introducing ourselves and giving our preferred pronouns and on which indigenous tribal land we’re occupying. This whole parade of ideological virtue signaling isn’t necessary. Bear in mind I’m a gay man who has always been a pretty moderate liberal. And my views haven’t changed. The society has. Thank you so much for this video.

Also, again, if you truly want things to change so that Zen in American expands and flourishes, I'm not sure "ranting to the choir" is the way to go.

Thanks for taking this strong stance and sharing your reaction, Brad. I was quite a bit stirred by the video and some comments below it. I try to share here with the purpose of helping me and others who read this (including Brad), to let go somewhat of attaching to our thoughts around this. Again if you wish to continue attaching to any thoughts though, I wish to for me to support that as well. So when hearing Brad, I had the thought that he wants to really support people with more centrist or conservative ways of thinking to connect to buddhism in the US and I also had the thought he wants to make sure Buddhism continues to florish in the US. I also have the idea that he was thinking both of these things are really important and that he really believed this thought. Now I don't know if it is like this, but I have this idea (and I would welcome your feedback on this, Brad). I on the other hand really felt a bit frightened at points and had the thought that a video like this could split the buddhist community. I also had moments of really believing that. Seeing this written down I now rather feel that there already is a split in the community and that this video might help us all be more compassionate with this idea of a split. Also I want to mention that many of the ideas that Brad brought up in the talk I know from my own consciousness, e.g. I had the thought that the writer of the cited introduction is attaching to the idea that it is important to clearly identify and challenge white privilege. I also have the idea that this attachment makes it hard for some people to engage with these ideas in a constructive way (as I see demonstrated by Brads reaction). But again, I might be wrong here and I want to remain open to things being different. Anyway, I really pray for all of us who have vowed to practice Zen (and actually anyone) to view these kinds of issues as dharma doors and not so much as obstacles. Please share if you find this reflection useful.

Outstanding!

Amen.

Like a lot of media organizations and universities, religious movements are going to have to decide whether they want to become partisan or whether they genuinely want to be open to all-comers

American Buddhists be like: "you can practice this universal religion, as long as you have the correct political beliefs."

I also used to lean to the left. It's the left that left me

It extraordinary how exclusive woke is, for an ideology that professes inclusion.

Brad relax man

Thich Nhat Hahn has this in his Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism: "Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts." Although, can we agree on the difference between transforming into a political party, and taking a clear stand against oppression and injustice? It doesn't look like we can.

Now Breathe, you are forgetting impermanence, the left will change into the right, the right will into the left. The Middle may help you break free from the samsara of left and right, Please practice this. Namaste.

Right On brotha!!

thanks, Brad. Well said, and necessarily so.

I thought Buddhism was about waking up. Btw, "woke" is just a vague reactionary buzzword. What does it mean? Whatever you want it to mean, apparently.

Great truth rant Brad!!!

Thank you so much for speaking out about this, Brad. My girlfriend and I attended a Zen center in Philadelphia regularly for a while. When the virus hit and the shots came out the center required them. We didn't want to get the shot so we stopped going. We could've pretended we got it and kept going but I didn't feel comfortable doing that. We both really love the teacher so it's a shame. We'll probably return soon and hopefully continue going. However, it's hard for me to forget about what they did during the pand3mic.

Good call!

“Bhikkhus, just as a blue, red, or white lotus is born in the water and grows up in the water, but having risen up above the water, it stands unsullied by the water, so too the Tathagata was born in the world and grew up in the world, but having overcome the world, he dwells unsullied by the world.” - from the Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.94 Pupphasutta: Flowers

a tradition that is 2600 years old can not be butchered by novices trying to adhere to political ideology developed ten years ago.

If you think that politics should largely be left out of Buddhism then I hope (with respect) that this is the last time you raise it because its not the reason that I watch your videos. I live in England and I've attended a few different Buddhist centres and Monastery's. I have never encountered a problem with politics at any of them. They were all quite definitely apolitical. Am I lucky? I think its sad if a person chooses to invest their time studying Buddhism but instead has to discuss politics which can be so inflammatory...

NO, It's an amazing album.. AMAZING

I like how in the middle of being serious you do that infantile skidmark joke. :D

Regardless of whether one is a Buddhist, to the right, the left or the extreme center, as citizens we should speak out when there is violence and injustice because we care, out of affection for people and those who suffer, you don't have to be a Buddhist or to the left or anything else to be caring to have the capacity to sympathize with those who suffer.

Equanimity ❤😂

So refreshing to hear this! I have returned so many new books on spirituality since 2020 because as I read thru I notice they are peppered with these virtue signaling topics…🤦🏻‍♀️

i feel your pain Brad.

Great video, Brad! I remember Alan Watts quoting either Lao Tzu or Confucius, as saying, " the goody goodies are the thieves of virtue". Anyway, I recently purchased a new edition of the Tao Te Ching and in the introduction it mentions that they went through and changed every "he" to a "she" or something gender neutral. It was disheartening.

Your comments around the 18:40 mark are dead nuts on. It's a matter of keeping everybody except the anointed believers out so they don't have to hear the why questions. It's a sorting mechanism. Thank you for speaking out.

Love this cause I worked at a center for 4 years & didn’t agree with their ‘wokeness’ as it wasn’t Buddhism to me, it’s such an egoic stance to be a political extremist, to be fixated on your views is self clinging & to not love/embrace all including those that don’t agree with you. And you are so right, they are the most left ppl that run buddhism in America.

Zazen teaches you to see beyond the petty divisiveness of our minds. That introduction (or wokism, which is a self-righteous posturing) has nothing to do with Buddhism. I agree with your outrage.

Thankfully I have the original version of the book. This new introduction for me is nausea inducing. And I’m a progressive. But I don’t believe in shoving my political or cultural biases down anyone’s throat. That’s the opposite of Zen.

I'm a socialist (european, real socialist) and a buddhist and I both agree and disagree with you on this. I dont like the word "woke" and I cant see how wearing masks has anything at all to do with left wing politics and I do believe you can argue for a just economy, the end to rascism and taking care of our planet from a buddhist perspective. But, and this is a big but (no pun intended) buddhism is not political and doing zazen and teaching and/or learning the dharma should not be confused with political ideologies. I could absolutely argue that capitalism as an economic system and social structure can never be based in compassion since it is completely centered around the need for profit which leads to greed and egocentric behaviour. But, I would never claim buddhism is anti capitalist or that socialism is "more buddhist", because at the end of the day, "this", "suchness" has nothing to do with who owns the factories or how the economy is organized. We still need to navigate in this world though, and even if we are buddhists we can have strong opinions on how society should be managed. But as buddhists we need to keep our ears and hearts open for others and make an effort to truly speak and act from a compassionate heart. Thank you for your teachings, you're still not banned in my book.

That introduction is pretty egregious. I thought you were joking for a second, it sounds like a satire

Thank you for having the balls to speak up Brad. You always have. Politics are personal and have no place in the sangha; they should never mix. *Gassho* from Euclid, OH, my friend. Been a while... :Damon 'Ko Myo' (Zen Shin "in exile")

Brad, I consider myself an anarchist, and I'm right there with you. Wokeism has about as much to do with Anarchism as it does with Buddhism. The whole thing is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I wish Anarchism would break away from the left and establish itself as post-political, unfortunately people who claim anarchist while pushing statist capitalist ideas have taken over. Yuck. Cultural appropriation: it's funny-sad how we're supposed to fix cultural relations by removing all references to other cultures from our own culture. White people are only allowed to do white people things, etc. Wut? I guess Japanese Buddhists using Chinese dharma names is cultural appropriation because of the atrocities the Japanese government committed against China in WW2? I could write a whole opinion piece on this subject, but I won't. I'm just glad you're out here trying to be a voice of reason. At my local temple they have a segment where people call out names or groups they want everyone to send metta to. I've thought about calling out Trump's name (cause that guy needs metta real bad) but I've been afraid of being excommunicated for it. Mostly people call out for Palestine or prisoners.

WWBC - Who Would Buddha Cancel?

That's why I believe in only two out of three jewels. Believe in the Saṅgha?! Uhmm... not completely sold on that.

I always smell books when I get them too. A good quality book smells great [chef’s kiss]! They are rare nowadays though. I think there was a lot more publishing back in the 90’s when I was a lad…

I am familiar with "2000 Light Years From Home" via Monster Magnet's cover version, which was on "4-Way Diablo" that occupies a similar place in their discography as "Their Satanic Majesties' Request" in the Rolling Stones': most of their fans hate it but I quite like that album for trying some different things than their other albums even if it doesn't always work. The main thing I noticed in this video is how weird it feels to someone in Denmark that there are still religious institutions in the US that enforce COVID-19 regulations in 2024, since here they were lifted in January 2022.

This is one area in which i agree with Ken Wilber.. the "mean green meme" can transcend, but it cant include.. It seems that many of these groups are not in the least bit interested in the acceptance of diversity when it comes to worldviews, or anything that might challenge their cherished woke cult. I would have thought part of the value of community would be to be at one on a deeper level than mere politics and languaging.

That Stones record 'Satanic Majesty' is the only one I can listen to all the way through and enjoy every track. You cant really dance to it...and that's probably why Mick never allowed that kind of experiment again. He's the only one in the band that can dance. Isnt that Phil's bass???

The middleway reduces suffering.

Many thanks for this valuable report, video. The donate button does not work, unfortunately.

What Buddhist teachers/organisations would people recommend to get away from Woke buddhism?

1981! The year I was born. :D I like the music video, looks cosmic! Sounds good too. #2Based2BWoke

Maybe you can confirm. Tim McCarthy even though he was kind of on the left on many issues, was conservative in terms of sex. That you should be responsible with it (I don't think he was against gays although gay stuff did make him uncomfortable) including the possibility of getting married.

Top rant.👍

I had to share this in the Asian Spiritual Shitposting group, haha This is some quality shitposting lol! 😆

Why are you whining about people wanting to better understand how historical processes and social systems have been selected by power structures to numb us to our capacities to be compassionate (to struggle with) over the course of centuries? Was the Buddha not explicitly critiquing the social structures of his time such as caste? Was the text screaming or are you not able to maintain composure when confronting perspectives you don't identify with? What kind of "enlightened" centrism is this?

So many buzzwords they got checked off there.

Yay Their Satanic Majesties Request love finally 😍Awesome intro!!

I would like to try to disagree that Buddhism is conservative, it became conservative, but the Buddha was a revolutionary, taking an opposition stance on the politics of India, but here is the punch line - supporting popular political message is something most people can do and the introduction which is opposed in this video is an extract of what is said on one of the political sides - it's a meaningless message in terms of impact, it is a meaningful message for this book in terms of retrospective, we can see what happens to the mind. This obviously doesn't ring zen bells for us. I would like to highlight my main point - if popular message could help what it is intended for on the surface - it would, but it doesn't because that message is only the surface. I experienced this myself in my local zen center. I couldn't understand at first, but then I realized that the majority of people in a Zen center are ones who seek help and not the ones who can provide it, so I relaxed. Popular message may cause sparks, but it takes a more focused and intense work, such as the one the Buddha did, to burn anything. Let us collectively actualize another firestarter.