From: "Anders Honore" > Buddhism is largely a social construct, a vehicle for carrying out old animistic rituals and serving the needs of the lay people. Enlightenment doesn't come into the picture much (certainly not for laypeople) - it is no more than 100 years ago that meditation was quite rare even among monks in Thailand. >>
So you are saying that D.T. Suzuki and his colleagues basically re-invented Buddhism and shipped it West? It sounds plausible. So Buddha and his teachings basically slipped through the cracks as Buddhism became an institutioanl religion and form took the place of substance? Interesting to consider that if Buddhism had not come to the West it would have dried up and died in the East? I have seen on Discovery Channel, etc. some of the traditional rites that Buddhist monks are in charge of in various backwards places. Interesting things to consider. How alive is Buddhism in the East? Is it teaching Meditation and anything regarding enlightenment, etc.? Or is it just a Religious Service that members attend out of habit? ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
