Re: Buddhism and Salinger as promised

Robert Morris (winboog@gis.net)
Sun, 14 Jun 1998 10:39:50 -0400 

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> From: J J R <jrovira@juno.com>
> To: bananafish@lists.nyu.edu
> Subject: Re: Buddhism and Salinger as promised
> Date: Sunday, June 14, 1998 8:05 AM
> 
> Yeah, I have to admit, there is Definitely a specific brand of
> Westernized Eastern philosophy floating around in the states.  It seems
> partly due to the fact of, well, simple cultural realities, partly due to
> the fact that people introducing eastern thought into the west did so
> concerned with making it palatable, plus the fact that they were
> westerners themselves.  
> 


    We should also realize that Eastern philosophy differs from place to
place, even in the East. Tibetan Buddhists may have a difficult time
rectifying their beliefs with those of Japanese Zen Buddhist monks. It
seems to be part of the whole thing that Westerners would bring to it their
own perceptions as well. I do agree that the Eastern ideal has been
co-opted by a certain type of New Age character. The type of Western view
that really drives me mad is the idea that," Zen is just groovy, no
hangups, man."  A great deal of Westerners who attatch themselves to these
Eastern ideas fail to realize that the structure of rules and practice are
as rigid or extensive as any proposed by most Judeo/Christain sects. I'm
amazed at how many of my Catholic peers ( I'm an old Mackerel snapper
myself) have completely rejected the idea of Christ and go diving headlong
into the Buddha, just like our friend Franny.  Claiming that it makes more
sense is ignoring the writing on the wall, I think. Dylan said, " You were
talking about Buddha, talking about Muhammad in one breath. You never once
mentioned the man who came and died a criminal's death."  I have more
conversations than I care to recall with people profess the innate goodness
of Eastern belief systems, without beginning to recognize the essence of
Western belief systems. Reading Salinger and Joseph Campbell were what
broke down the walls of the mysterious East for me.  Salinger's
westernization doesn't offend me in the least, I think because he presents
the Western right along side on an equal platter. Now as I said a few weeks
ago, Ginsberg's take on the subject drives me batty...
                    Take care all,
                        Robert Morris
                        winboog@gis.net