I generally avoid getting political on this blog. Not because I am
apolitical, or think it too messy a subject to broach, but because I
have used this blog primarily as an exercise in exploring ideas and
experiences I think might be interesting for those with a fair few years
of involvement with Buddhism in their back pocket. It’s been a rather
personal affair I guess.
Although I have been attempting to write a blog post on non-duality this
December, I have failed three times and the pleasure in the task has
evaporated, which is never a good sign. In wondering what to write next,
I was surfing the net on Boxing Day and came across a couple of videos
by ex-members of a Western Buddhist organisation of which I was a solid
member for a number of years, even once considering ordination (yikes!).
The organisation is called the NKT (New Kadampa Tradition) and is to be
found on many cult-watch websites.
I was involved with the NKT back in the early 90s and I moved out of
their failed South-western Buddhist college project, after realising how
similar they were to Scientology and how incompatible I was with their
group think approach. There is much that can be said about them and
their nefarious activities, but I will leave that up to others: links
can be found below if you are curious. The content of the Youtube videos
reminded me of the issue of ignorance so many Westerners have regarding
the history of Buddhism and the general lack of knowledge regarding
Buddhism as a political and cultural phenomenon.
The videos lead to a website with an article making the same comparison
with Scientology and in doing so highlights much of what is suspect
about the organisation. As an entity, it is a fascinating case study for
it seems to demonstrate all of what is wrong with Tibetan Buddhism in
the West, but in a hyper-real fashion. One tactic regularly carried out
by the organisation is to white-wash criticism and they have worked
their Wikipedia entry countless times. For anyone who reads anti-China,
or anti-Russia articles on the Independent or Guardian, their behaviour
will be familiar. NKT followers troll sites that criticise any aspect of
their tradition and shout as loudly as possible whilst posting links to
their own highly politicised website, spookily named ‘NKT Truth’:
George Orwell must be shivering in his grave.
Another absurdity is their political opposition to Mr Lhamo Dondrub (the
old DL if you don’t recognise the name). White NKT Westerners willingly
protest Dalai Lama events globally and assume anyone who speaks out
against them is one of his devout supporters. Yes, it’s the old ‘us and
them’ game so popular with insecure folks highly invested in their
belief systems. It never fails to amaze me how ignorant these people are
to allow themselves to be so easily led into fighting for an odd
political cause concerning an imaginary figure.
I guess a lot of folks are looking for meaning in their lives and this
inter-tribal battle seems to fire them up. I guess it is a wonderful
release for that special Buddhist brand of passive-aggression readers
will be all too familiar with.
What strikes me most though in re-reading the same old tripe spouted by
these followers is the incredible level ignorance of the wider Buddhist
context and in particular the history of Buddhism in Tibet made
particularly intense by their glorious leader’s insistence that his
followers read no other Buddhists books apart from his own. Like a good
dictator, all other materials are excluded from his centres.
Like all cherished beliefs, the outside world threatens the stability of
adherence to apparent truths, so followers shout more loudly, invest
more fervently in their secluded pockets of make-believe and eventually,
with time, find a comfortable and bland unthinking allegiance to the
comfort of certainties that only closed, insular circles of
fellow-members can provide.
All too aware of how poorly read so many devout Western Buddhists are, I
thought it might be worth highlighting a small number of widely
available books on Buddhism that put the absurdities of an organisation
like the NKT in context. Old Glenn Wallis wrote of Buddhemes in his original account of Buddhism’s self-referential failings, but with the NKT we can speak of a specific dialect called NKT-speak.
When it is used by NKT followers, they come across as lobotomised
hungry ghosts, perfectly parroting the party line in unthinking
devotion.
Here then are a number of books I found ‘enlightening’ in my
‘purification’ from Buddhist ignorance. If you know of more, feel free
to add them in the comments section. By the way, any NKTers trolling
here will be thoroughly ignored.
History
A fascinating and highly readable account of the history of Tibet, it
shines a light on developments in Tibet and provides the historical and
political background of current affairs. It helpfully pulls apart many
of the preconceptions that Westerners have about Tibet and really is a
pleasure ot read. Highly recommended.
A great read and essential for an understanding of Tibet without the
romanticism. This book sets out to destroy the myths still lingering in
dharma centres left, right and centre.
A thorough review of the history of Buddhism and pre-Buddhist religion
in Tibet, it explores the relationship between indigenous, shamanic
Tibetan traditions and their influence on the imported Indian Buddhism
that came to dominate the high plains of Tibet. It’s not for the timid
though and rather encyclopaedic.
A sober, accessible overview of key Mahayana doctrinal sources,
philosophical views and history that will provide greater context for
Buddhists who are enamoured with a single tradition and hagiographic
accounts of teachers and teachings.
Modernity and scandal
A modern classic which shines a light on Buddhism in the West and its
recent history and intermeshing of cultural values. It may make a number
of contemporary Buddhists feel rather embarrassed. The NKT is a
perfectly Western result of Buddhist Modernism and one of the most adept
forms of Western Buddhism at adopting capitalist values with all their
moral grey areas.
An interesting account of the power of faith in maintaining ignorance
and abuse and the problems with hero worship. The book well highlights
the internal mechanisms that lead to unquestioning devotion and the need
of Buddhist identities for firm belief systems.
Finally, the best material I picked up from the Speculative Non-Buddhism
boys was Glen Wallis’ original text on deconstructing the Western
Buddhist confusion. I will link here to his original article which is
well worth a look. Nascent Speculative Non-Buddhism.
Links
