In Pursuit of Mysteries - Latest Comments in Starbucks Buddhism?

Re: Starbucks Buddhism?

albill — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:25:18 -0000

I haven't received any grade yet for my class and I didn't get a copy of my paper back from the professor (at least, I haven't yet...). I've e-mailed him about it to ask as I'm more interested in his comments than just the final grade for the class.

Re: Starbucks Buddhism?

Jayarava — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:11:42 -0000

I think "what a fucking zoo" about sums it up for me. The FWBO has started to go in for big events a bit more these days - I guess there are just more of us. They make me incredibly antsy. At least we don't get rock stars - I'd hate that. And no one kowtows to the "senior" Order members (well not much anyway).

What can it possibly signify to have a room full of people taking an abhisheka? What can possibly be "transmitted" under such circumstances? What proportion were taking the samaya seriously? Doesn't it undermine the seriousness of sadhana? It can't be good for anyone to pursue the cult of personality you and your other commenters are describing here.

I'm just back from a week on retreat - 14 of us that were ordained together in 2005 celebrating our birthday, and studying the Bodhicaryavatara with Sangharakshita. It was cool to spend some time with the old man, kind of like I imagine hanging out with grand fathers might have been if mine hadn't been alcoholics. Just talking about the Dharma and drinking tea. Very laid back.

Give me a small retreat with a group of friends over a superstar lama and a media circus any day.

Have you got your marks back yet?

Jayarava

Re: Starbucks Buddhism?

Peregrin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:36:35 -0000

Thanks Al for this post and description.

Down here in Western Australia the only road-show Buddhist teachings are those from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

I did notice however at his public talks last year, here and in Melbourne, that the vast majority of people did not seem to be committed Dharma practitioners. I think it may be due to the limited size of Australia's population, all the seats were not immediately snapped up by Sangha and Dharma folk.

Even his "smaller" (2500 people) 3 day teaching on the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation and Manjurshi empowerment attracted a majority of people who had not previously taken Refuge.

In 5 days we'll be over in Sydney for 5 days of teaching and a Chenrezig empowerment with him, and the publicity machine is full on. There's a count-down, more marketing you can poke a stick at, etc. I am sure i will be required to make an internal effort to stop all this pissing me off.

Still, when compared with rock concerts, I'm not sure which I'd prefer my young teenage son to go to :)

Re: Starbucks Buddhism?

James — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:41:34 -0000

Yeah I kind of go the lone wolf route with my Buddhist practice. I don't attend a formal sangha as I find it too contrictive.

I have tend to have a more far reaching view of the sangha, that all is sangha. The internet has made it possible for hermits such as myself to stay in contact with Buddhists from around the globe.

I guess I'm the reclusive monk type who would prefer to live in a cave than in society or in a monastery.

I don't believe either to be better or worse. I think it's more about finding what works the best for you.

Re: Starbucks Buddhism?

Wm. Bainbridge — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:51:25 -0000

Hey Al,

Glad you liked the K. We saw him in Woodstock, which was a much more sedate gathering, being limited to people who were members of KTD or a KTC before the visit announcement. He was surrounded everywhere by six large guys in black suits and coiled wires coming out of their ears. I'm assuming most of the security is because the Chinese aren't thrilled he's out and about, but there are also the followers of the Anti-Karmapa, and that stuff actually killed people 15 or so years ago.

A lot of the boomers are because of the 16th Karmapa, who was a very big thing when he came over here, and caused a lot of people to become dedicated practitioners for life.

There were lots and lots--whole busloads--of Chinese people there, too, and maybe that will turn out to be a good thing for the future of Tibet.

I agree with the limited usefulness of big Dharma Zoos, but was also unable to pass up the chance of seeing a first like this.

At Woodstock, he was very grateful for the people who have kept the 16th Karmapa's projects going, but also very clear that he's taking things where he believes they should go. One striking thing about the visit there that you'll appreciate was that he made his respect for and reliance on the Dzogchen Ponlob very clear. DPR was the only lama to get another, though somewhat smaller, throne in the ceremonies, and in his words to everyone on the day he arrived, he said at the end that the connection between him and the folks there was sort of like "Dzogchen-Mahamudra," and he didn't know why he mentioned Dzogchen-Mahamudra except that the Dzogchen Ponlob was sitting there. I got the impression that he knew exactly why he mentioned D-M, and it's probably going to be an emphasis that hasn't been so prominent before in the Karma Kagyu scene.

I hope he stays alive and comes back often, as he seems like he'll be very good for American Buddhism.

W.B.