Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Contra Buddhism I

This religion says,
“I am not a religion,”
And yet it is.
Some Magritte word-picture-play,
A paradox of some modern Zeno,
Or a Zen koan,
That would pitch one toward deeper meanings?
Its devotees would say “yes,”
If not rejecting the religious tag completely.
Does atheism make a religion not a religion?
I say “no.”
You stand charged in the dock, Buddhists.
Holding metaphysical matters of ultimate concern —
Afterlives, reincarnations, non-physical life forces.
You pray,
And engage in other rites,
Possess sacred texts,
And follow mandates,
In attempts to control these ultimate concerns.
No Zen koan;
This religion is.

5 comments:

Addle Allone said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gadfly said...

I think that's kind of like claiming conservative politics haven't failed, just conservative politicians.

Addle Allone said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gadfly said...

More linguistic mumbo-jumbo. I haven't heard stuff like this since I quit going to AA meetings.

Again, read Wittgenstein. If Buddhists like you want to play your own language games, don't cry when you get a philosophical smackdown, in part precisely because you refuse to play everyday, conventional language games.

As far as "ineffability" goes, bullshit.

Things like fMRIs show how the brain works even under supposedly "ineffable" experiences.

Addle Allone said...
This comment has been removed by the author.