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September 13, 2005
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Buddhism with Chinese Characteristics
Over the past quarter century, the Chinese Communist Party has become quite adept at privatizing organizations and introducing them to the Profit (Prophet?) motive. In fact, their audacity knows no bounds - check out these photos in Xinhua showing 18 monks from the Jade Buddha Temple being put into an MBA program at Shanghai Jiaotong University "with Buddhist characteristics". The atheists at the CCP must be so mystified (and horrified) at the concept of renouncing material desire that they are forcing these monks to get with the program and start focusing their mind on a new mantra - "Greed is Good". I wonder how they translate 'Gordon Gecko' into Chinese? posted by HK Dave on 09.13.05 at 11:38 AM in the
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The atheists at the CCP must be so mystified (and horrified) at the concept of renouncing material desire that they are forcing these monks to get with the program and start focusing their mind on a new mantra - "Greed is Good". How very, very accurate. For example, in my dealings with the CCP, given the task of promoting open source software development, all they could think of was "hire more programmers" or "hold some competition with a big cash prize". They were stunned at the suggestion that many open source software development are done by volunteers. In fact they were stunned that there exists any kind of volunteer work at all. posted by: spacehunt on 09.13.05 at 03:21 PM [permalink]This is an unexpected development. I would never have thought. I guess it is too early make out any trend. posted by: Chuang Shyue Chou on 09.13.05 at 04:32 PM [permalink]In such a rapidly changing society where the RMB is often the only stable social as well as monetary currency, I guess it is understandable, spacehunt, why some people feel that way. I would also argue that a purely rationalist/atheist belief system makes it much easier for the CCP to structure national policy based on 'rational choice' theory. But not only does belief in the Infinite and in a world beyond this one undermine the predictability of policy outcomes, it also creates alternative power structures in a society long used to a monopolistic corporatism. We shall see whether the slight changes at the margins in terms of a more flexible attitude towards political liberalization will also extend towards religious freedom. I suspect not, because that would strike a blow at the heart of the CCP's claim to moral legitimacy by taking away its moral monopoly position. posted by: HK Dave on 09.13.05 at 04:51 PM [permalink]I guess you can say this very materialistic view on the world is a by-product of a rapidly changing society. Certainly one can argue the same thing happened right here in Hong Kong over the past few decades, though to a lesser extent. With regards to religious freedom, I think it's much simpler than that --- the CCP simply don't want any gathering together of people, period. They know very well how powerful even a small, yet determined, group can be; that's how they kicked out the Nationalists, right? posted by: spacehunt on 09.14.05 at 02:51 AM [permalink]Yes Hong Kong is similar, although the fact that there are more mature civic organizations, and the housing subsidies, have made for a slightly more caring society. We are making the same point - a corporatist structure vs. a pluralistic one is like saying that a society organized within the state vs. a society with a number of different alternative power structures. Having said that, there are a growing number of civic/business organizations in China that are not part of the party. My point is that China is especially sensitive to gatherings of a religious nature because those belief systems (i.e. fa lun gong, the underground catholic church) are ones over which the CCP has no control. posted by: Dave on 09.14.05 at 09:57 AM [permalink]Buddhism has long been commodified in other Asian societies as well. Just visit most Buddhist temples in South Korea for example, and you will see that monks resemble sale clerks. The same in Japan, where both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are often sponsored by large corporations like Sony and Panasonic. Every temple complex in Asia now seems to sport a shop near the exit selling Buddhist kitsch - plastic prayer beads, plastic images of Guanyin, plastic Buddha car decorations, plastic Buddha necklaces, you name it! Whatever happened to the idea that ALL human desire is suffering? Well, I think to some extent these 'sales clerks' are there to fulfill a function not only of making a sale but also effectively accepting donations from Buddhist worshippers in return for some votive trinket. Fair enough though, it does commercialize the temple experience. As far as donations from corporations, there are a number of Western enterprises that implicitly or quite explicitly support religious organizations. Quite similar to the practice of 'tithing' which is still done by a substantial minority of Americans. I still would like to think that the monks might not need the training of an MBA, but then I am sure that Falwell and Robertson have biz-school types on their payroll. posted by: HK Dave on 09.14.05 at 04:05 PM [permalink]Yes HK Dave, you are right to point out that there are many Western enterprises that give explicit financial support to religious organisations, and many Churches certainly these days also have shops flogging off all sorts of Christian kitsch - St. Mary's Cathedral in central Sydney for example. Everything in life, all of our life's experiences, are now becoming increasingly commercialised and commodified - we now live in a one-dimensional society, as Marcuse predicted back in the late 60s, whereby we are all unable to sublimate our enjoyment, our experiences, because all of our experiences are mediated, are carefully packaged and sold to us. Even climbing a mountain, as an experience, has now been desublimated, thanks to the invention of the leisure industry. Is this flowing water site the infamous Madge? Looks like it, unless there are two Mark Anthony Joneses living in Shenzhen. posted by: Dave on 09.14.05 at 06:44 PM [permalink] |
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