Here are the results of an interesting poll: more Germans are inspired by the Dalai Lama than by Pope Benedict XVI, and more Germans consider Buddhism to be a "more peaceful" religion than either Christianity or Islam.
"Eine Umfrage, die der SPIEGEL in Auftrag gegeben hatte, ergab, dass 44 Prozent der Bundesbürger den tibetischen Gottkönig als Vorbild betrachten. Nur 42 Prozent entschieden sich für den Papst. Besonders bei jüngeren und gut ausgebildeten Deutschen steht der Dalai Lama hoch im Kurs.Die Hälfte aller Befragten glaubt, dass der buddhistische Führer auch "Ratschläge fürs Leben bereithalten könnte". Der Buddhismus scheint den Deutschen generell sympathischer zu sein als das Christentum oder der Islam. Auf die Frage nach der "friedlichsten Religion" führt er mit 43 Prozent zu 41 Prozent vor dem Christentum. Der Islam gilt den Deutschen dagegen offenbar als kriegerisch:
I can understand the preference for the Dalai Lama over Pope Benedict. Benedict, for all of his brilliance, projects an authoritarian persona that is anathema to many. And catholic dogma is the opposite of the Buddhist way, which doesn’t insist on just one path to enlightenment. Last week Pope Benedict authorized the release of an "official edict" that Jesus only established one church – the Roman Catholic Church. The Orthodox churches are therefore deemed "defective" and all other Christian denominations are not true churches. As for which religion is the most peaceful, it is understandable that Christianity would not fare so well when the "Christian" president of the United States invokes Jesus as a justification to wage wars.
But does one need to choose between Christ or Buddha? I have always been intrigued the idea of Christ AND Buddha. To me there are parallels between the teachings of Jesus and Zen Buddhism. The parables of the Gospels are similar in so many ways to a Zen kōan. It was the great Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton who went further than perhaps any other Christian thinker in establishing a dialogue with eastern religion, after he had a mystical experience standing in front of a statue of Buddha. Unfortunately Merton died tragically in Bangkok just as he was making progress in bringing both traditions together. Who can finish what Thomas Merton started?
UPDATE: Ex-Roman Catholic Priest James Carroll on Pope Benedict’s Mistake.
0 comment
Vielleicht liegt das Problem darin, daß – so zumindest empfinde ich das – das Christentum keine Religion ist, die den Menschen weiter bringt, ihn in seiner Entwicklung unterstützt, sondern ihn anscheinend immer wieder nur ausbremst?
Beim Buddhismus sehe ich diese Komponente nicht. Da verlangt keiner von mir unbedingten Glauben an eine nicht bewiesene Sache, sondern immer wieder nur Einsicht, auch in die eigene Schwäche. Ich werde nicht als “Sünder” stigmatisiert, sondern ich b i n einer, weil wir alle nur schwache Menschen sind. Ich habe das Recht, nicht jedoch die Pflicht, an meinen Fehlern zu arbeiten … usw.usw.
Eine höhere Instanz wie der Papst, der am Ende nichts anderes ist als ein einfacher Mensch, der in einer menschlichen Hierarchie aufgestiegen ist, kann mir doch nicht ernsthaft vorschreiben wollen, wie ich zu leben habe. Er kennt mich doch gar nicht. Und die scheinbare Allgemeingültigkeit mancher Verhaltensregeln stellt sich im Vatikan sicherlich anders dar als im ärmsten Afrika …
The negative sides to the “Dalai Lama” are easy to see, but Westerners are always blinded by the whole colorful pseudo-mysticism of this political figure.
Tibetan Buddhism is quite superstitious and backward. The claimed rebirth of the Tibetan lamas is actually anti-Buddhist since “there is no soul” is a central doctrine in real Buddhism. Rebirth is fundamentally a Hindu and Judeo-Christian doctrine.
There are real words by the historic Buddha that such things like the scouts who get sent out to search for the “reincarnation” of the lamas are pure quack.
The main problem with Tibetan Buddhism is however the leader/guru cult. This ancient religious absolutism culminates in the “Dalai Lama” who is used mostly as a western anti-China prop. But I wouldn’t ever want to be ruled by a guy who claims to be the rebirth of ancient truth and wisdom and is a political leader at the same time!
If the question was between “Christ” and “Budda” the results may have been different. Pretty much everyone understands that the Christian religion has caused a lot of wars, but few would argue the teachings of Christ are essentially warlike.
Similarly, in a poll context, it’s not surprising that people would have more favorable views of the Dalai Lama then the Pope (given his definite stands on controversial social issues). However, this poll doesn’t tell us a lot about how much people are “inspired” by the respective figures–it simply deals with subjective impressions.
Who can finish what Thomas Merton started? We, western meditators in tradionally christian countries. Total encounter between Buddha and Christ, for the benefit of all sentient beings. Fernando Luis Gómez, Barranquilla, Colombia