A brief collection of thoughts on the legacy of Buddhist studies and its impact on radical politics.
One of many Buddhas.
I find it rather interesting that at least from a position of radicalism, some have turned to those Buddhist traditions that are themselves more conventionally hierarchical, organized, and so forth. Be it Zen Buddhism or even various Vajrayana lineages, it is does appear that as far as Buddhism’s place in radical thought is concerned, there is a clear preference for particular traditions. This preference can be explained as a result of various factors, but I think two stand out especially. The first of which is the longtime emphasis of Buddhist studies towards Japanese forms of Buddhism, especially Zen, as a more ‘refined’ practice. Continue reading “Comments on Buddhism and Radical Politics”