Buddha, Buddhism, and Japanese cultural dysfunction
Buddha, Buddhism, and Japanese cultural dysfunction
“I welcomed this inquiry about what I said about Buddhism because some people have reacted very strongly to the things which I said. They used my “wrongness” about Buddhism as an excuse to throw out everything I said. To throw out the baby with the bath water. . . . Ironically, the quote above and the quote immediately following are separated in the book by an example about how twisted and distorted interpretations of the Bible have been. Later in the book I talk about how many so-called “Christian” teachings today are the very opposite of the teachings of Jesus. Some Christians have dismissed my book (thrown out the baby) for the very same reasons some Buddhists have.” *** “I have had many clients who have practiced sitting in meditation for many years, who were taught to use meditation as a way of repressing the feelings - “observing” the feelings is not the same as owning and feeling and experiencing. Just as some “new age” or Metaphysical people use Spiritual Truths as another tool to deny the feelings . . . so too have meditation practices of observing the feelings been used by some to avoid feeling the feelings.” “Buddha - who was obviously an important messenger in setting up this defense system - taught that the fourth great truth is that one must control conduct, thinking, and belief by following the eight-fold path of right views, right speech, right conduct, right effort, right etc., etc. Buddha could have been the patron saint of Codependence with that teaching. Always trying to be in control and do the “right” things is Codependence (as is going to the opposite extreme). It is a defense system for survival in a hostile environment. It is based on beliefs that are backwards, reversed.” “I had observed that the Japanese cultural customs in relationship to the concept of “honor” and “saving face” were established in such a way as to prevent individuals from having to set boundaries. When everyone is always making great effort to not say words that hurt or put others down - then no one has to set boundaries. A great deal of effort and energy goes into avoiding any conflict that might cause another discomfort. Unfortunately, this dictates emotional dishonesty and loss of self. Setting boundaries is how we find out who we are - if I never have to stand up for myself then I never have to define myself as an individual.”
On this page Spiritual teacher/codependency therapist clarifies his views about Buddha and Buddhism.
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Codependence: The Dance of Wounded Souls by Robert Burney is copyright 1995. Material on Joy2MeU web site (except where otherwise noted) is copyright 1996 thru 2008 by Robert Burney PO Box 235401 Encinitas CA 92023.
This writing of Robert Burney was first published November 2, 1998 as part a Question and Answer page of the Joy to You & Me web site.
Originally published at https://joy2meu.com/Buddhism.htm