January 09, 2010
Ideology, Mass movements and clear thinking.
The difference between ideology and clear thinking is explained on page 159 of Hannah Arendt's book "The origins of totalitarianism;" Ideologies are:
"systems based upon a single opinion that proved strong enough to persuade a majority of people [within the group or in a nation] and broad enough to lead them through the various experiences and situations of modern life"..."an ideology differs from a simple opinion in that it caims to possess either the key to history, or the solutions to all the 'riddles of the universe,' or the intimate knowledge of the hidden universal laws which are supposed to rule nature and man."
Using that definition, one sees that the root of the problem of ideology comes from illusion, which leads to the delusion of a person, that "just because I'm a member of a group that is presumed to be "I" am . This is a faulty, but common, assumption; but is at the base of all mass movements, many religions, and causes much grief. Ethics says, "because I believe in I must make efforts to realize that principle." Movement ideology says "I'm great because I'm a member." Totalitarian movements, and cultic religions, think they have an all encompassing explanation for everything. Real Religion starts when one realizes the value of doubt, and the importance of effort.
Hannah Arendt also notes that the various ideas of totalitarian movements all crystalized from various opposed ideas. As long as one opinion was as good as another, and people could weigh and debate ideas, then those opinions about reality weren't destructive; because people were still able to think realistically. But once ideas such as class, race, [or by my extension of her argument; religious belief] become all encompassing dogmas then there is no room for examining reality from other angles. The blind men fleas form ranks and start fighting with each other over who rules the elephant instead of seeing the concept of the metaphor as an expression of the complexity of the reality they are dealing with.
There is danger in too much simplification, and there is danger in assuming equality of mythology too. This post is about the illusion of over simplifying.
Buddhism is about providing each other with the means, lore, and disciplines necessary to become enlightened. There is no presumption that any of us are already actually enlightened. Even our teachers. Nichiren led a movement where he consistently expressed hope that because he was following the lotus sutra as it actually teaches he and his disciples would actually reach enlightenment. That "if then" construct is dependent on the actual behaviors of people. It ain't so easy.
Posted by cholte at January 9, 2010 12:35 PM
Enlightenment in Lotus Sutra Buddhism is Myoho renge kyo or Namu Myoho renge kyo. It is thanks to the extraordinary effort of Shakyamuni Buddha that we too are perfectly enlightened to the Law.
Most people confuse Enlightenment with Buddhahood. Every single person who has chanted or even heard the Daimoku or seen the Gohonzon, even one time, is Enlightened and will eventually attain Buddhahood. Shakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment, Tientai's. Dengyo's, Chris's, Cl's, Ikeda's, Mark's, and Nichiren's is exactly the same. Thanks to Shakyamunui Buddha we have found the Supreme Jewel without even seeking it. No effort, none, is required on our part to become Enlightened.
One moment of faith and joy in Namu Myoho renge kyo is one moment of Buddhahood and a continuous recollection [or keeping] of faith and joy is continuous Buddhahood. Even the first moment of faith and joy [the first moment of Buddhahood] requires little effort on our part, thanks to the extraordinary efforts and mercy of Shakyamuni Buddha. Its in continuous recollection where extreme efforts are required and depending on our causes and conditions [karma], the correctness of our faith, our good or bad friends in the Dharma, our following correct teachers etc., one will sooner or later succeed in continuously manifesting Buddhahood.
This is what the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin teach, to the best of my ability and understanding.
You are stating opinion Rogow, state enough of them and get enough followers and you'll have either a religion or an ideology. Claiming your opinion as Nichiren's is, to me, the definition of Authoritarianism. If your ideological system seems to explain everything it is a totalitarian ideology. Only if it starts dominating an entire group totally does it become a totalitarian system. I pray that your system never becomes an ideology.
Chris,
"I pray that your system never becomes an ideology. "
Amen to that.
But it won't because Mark is not really convincing anybody that he is able to speak to Nichiren like his own personal Jesus. He just likes to argue with people without the proper facts nor , in my opinion, the proper faith. That is his religion. He really ought to study more good teachers of buddhism more and I don't limit that to the teachers of any particular sangha I practice with, but all good teachers of all buddhist practices. Beyond that, he might start to understand the meaning within all religious faiths and then truly understand the Lotus Sutra...in my opinion. I don't think Mark did his due diligence before joining his first buddhist sangha.
namaste
Mark is right, technically. It goes to the concepts of innate awakening; and attained awakening. Any of three kinds of arhats have attained Buddhahood; but in different ways. Their core enlightenment is the same. Their Buddhahood is not the same.
If Mark thinks we will all be attained Samma Sam Buddhas like the historical Shakyamuni; that is Mormonism or something. The samyaksambodhi of the LS is the unattained or innate awakening.
That is not ceded to us, we had it all along.
But we are probably hi-jacking your topic.
You are, of course, at least theoretically, right Robin. Now I'm going to state my own opinion, which is neither binding on anybody else, nor professed to be doctrine. We all have innate within us a drop of enlightenment that comes just from being human beings. When we awaken to the potential for enlightenment, that is like having two drops of enlightenment. When we attain higher states that is like filling a paper cup.
As to becoming a Buddha, the more a person is convinced he's got all the answers the more likely he is to trip and spill all his water.
What we can do is to guarantee a certain amount of enlightenment by acquiring merit, by cultivating compassion, self discipline, level headedness etc... and by defining and accomplishing our individual "missions" in life.
I really believe the Gakkai was onto something with that concept. Every religion, every person, and every group has a zillion roles to play. If people play them right the world becomes a pure land. If people play them according to the perverse existing rule the world becomes something corrupt.
Change the rules! Don't accept the corruption! Challenge the premises! Just because you can do something doesn't mean you have to do it.
Chris,
I like your spirit!
cheers
Rules are made to broken.
The best intended rules, if enforced to the letter, create serious injustices.
Locks are generally put on doors to keep the honest people out.
Enlightened people do not need rules; wordlings play them to their oen favor.
Buddhism does have answers; not just questions. The thing is, the methods of spiritual cultivation {citta bhavana} have to be learned and practiced. Thinking about them does very little. Like anything else worth anything, that takes time and effort. I mean sitting; not out running around trying fruitlessly to fix the broken world. My experience is that an hour of any kind of Buddhist chanting, prayer, or meditation saves 9 hours of wasted effort in other areas. Social engagements become far more joyful, productive, and rewarding.
I still chant Daimoku; more than I ever have. However, it was not enough for me. I needed the so called 'provisional practices' to fix parts of me that were broken. Sorry if some do not like that; but the actual proof, the result, is undeniable for me.
Buddhism was broken in Japan because of two main reasons. For one, people used it for material gain; to satisfy greed and lust; thereby cultivating the first veil / hindrance. The second main reason was they became attached to their own school and exclusive {in two ways} practices. As such, they cultivated the second hindrance, that of enmity.
Great post!
"..."an ideology differs from a simple opinion in that it caims to possess either the key to history, or the solutions to all the 'riddles of the universe,' or the intimate knowledge of the hidden universal laws which are supposed to rule nature and man."
If you buy into the claims you are on your way to being brainwashed and used as a puppet religiously or politically. Buddhism should reject this narrow thinking but people being what they are often it doesn't.
Robin:
"Buddhism was broken in Japan because of two main reasons. For one, people used it for material gain; to satisfy greed and lust; thereby cultivating the first veil / hindrance. The second main reason was they became attached to their own school and exclusive {in two ways} practices. As such, they cultivated the second hindrance, that of enmity."
I'd say there was a third reason, and to me it is Nichiren's thesis as well. The third reason was that they confused the disciplines, practices and principles of Buddhism with magic. This was encouraged by esoteric teachers who didn't want to share their deep psychological insights with the world because doing so would dispel their aura of mystery and reduce their power.
As a result of this deception and dishonesty by early teachers ordinary folks confused Buddhism with magic and were encouraged to seek material gain, while their teachers reaped donations and people coming to them seeking magic answers.
There are always causes and root causes. The root cause of japans' problems is indicated in the story of its arrival to Japan. The clan that founded Buddhism in Japan made a bid for secular power part of which was backed by appeals to magic, which didn't work for them. Likewise the Government turned to Buddhist Priests for prayers to end plagues, fight off the Mongols, and later to give immunity from Western Bullets. None of these things work. The problem wasn't one of superior magic to inferior magic, but of dishonest magical thinking versus dishonest magical thinking. People need to know their limits.