Source: http://www.artofdharma.org/
This comical visual that I've chosen represents a widespread American stereotype of the Buddhist culture, and one that is wholly inaccurate, especially in the eyes of Brad Warner, author of Zen Wrappen in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. The stereotype in question is that Buddhist monks are always concerning themselves with emptiness of thought, or the absence of conscious or deliberate cognizance, especially during periods of meditation or zazen. The stereotype also incurs thoughts of renunciation of secular happenings, and tuning oneself in to the channel of silent bliss. In reality, Buddhist practitioners suggest that, when meditating, to merely becoming an observer, and to witness the flux of body and mind. To elaborate, this practice of meditation does not advocate forcefully ejecting your thoughts (or blanking the mind), but rather witnessing their flow and simply watching their patterns of wandering.
Brad Warner not only suggests the reflection of thoughts when he discusses his zazen practices at the Great Sky Sesshins, but explicity admonishes the deliberate emptying of the mind. This is found in the statement where he says, “It never does you any good to try and forcibly stop your thoughts” (Page 131). The comic strip parallels the Buddhist mind, or, at the very least, their mentality, with the blank or empty television. Warner's statement is a direct contrary to this American stereotype, and disproves its validity indefinitely. To take this even further, Warner advocates keeping a day job even as a Buddhist monk in the West, since there is far less support for monks available here (Page 27). This implies the responsibility of maintaining a secular connection, despite seeking a liberating detachment.
Though the point of the image is purely comical, it does raise another interesting notion discussed in Warner's book. The entire concept of the monks having a television while seeking devout renunciation can be seen as upsetting, as Warner says the more possessions one have, the more responsibilities they incur. This is such through his statement on Page 22 where he says, “Everything you have... is an obligation”. I realize that this is a pretty farfetched comparison, but regardless, it is a concept in Warner's book, and, while we're on the tangent of extremist or broad stereotypes, it seems to fit the bill.
I agree with the common stereotype that Buddhist monks are always concerning themselves with emptiness of thought. I think this is because of Monks quiet nature. You have never seen any other side of Monks being portrayed. I’m sure they have a sense of humor and don’t just sit around all day in thought. I know that meditation is an important part of their religion, and I’m sure they take this very seriously, but I’m sure it doesn’t consume there life and define who they are as a person. There quiet nature may be mixed up with their avoidance of states of euphoria and bliss. As quoted in Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate Warner says “the reason we avoid them (euphoria and bliss) is because they’re just as unbalanced as our so called normal states of mind” (95). Buddhist have to keep a balanced mind, this is maybe why they have such a quiet demeanor. “It may look like we’re doing nothing when we sit in zazen. But actually we are exposing ourselves to ourselves” (87), this quote talks about the practice of zazen and the common misconception that there doing nothing, when actually they are. I think zazen and meditation has a deeper meaning that the average person just doesn’t understand.
ReplyDeleteI liked the comic that you chose for your blog, I think that it does represent what most Americans think about Buddhist monks. However, it's something how, as Brad Warner mentioned, 'Sitting on your cushion and doing zazen is the actual enlightened activity of Buddha' (pg 27)
ReplyDeleteThis comic made me think that people associate meditation with the idea of nothingness. Meditation is very symbolic in buddhism, and is crucial to the lives of the followers of buddha.
ReplyDeleteI also talked about this idea of emptiness in my response. Monks are portrayed in this way often times but in my personal experience the religion of Buddhism itself makes it seem as if the have no choice to feel empty. But a good point was made on my comments,a stereotype is being characterized as i speak, am i stereotyping because i feel they are all empty. It is hard for me to imagine being a Buddhist
ReplyDeleteI agree that a common stereotype is monks like to meditate all day and they have no other life. This cartoon is kind of telling us some monks do have a social life. Their goal is also not to do nothing. Enlightenment is not easy and it requires work. Many people think when monks are trying to reach enlightenment they sit there doing nothing.
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