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From: walsh@ihuxi.UUCP (B. Walsh)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Buddhist texts
Message-ID: <849@ihuxi.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Apr-84 10:29:20 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxi.849
Posted: Wed Apr 11 10:29:20 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 01:20:38 EST
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I will attempt to clarify my very brief statement of eastern vs. western
values. The statement was very broad and general, because I cannot give
a comprehensive explanation here, and I wanted to capture the essence
of underlying principles in a nutshell.

Ralph Johnson states: "Judaism has an extremely high regard for
intellectual undertanding of Jewish scriptures, with an emphasis
on obeying God"

This is precisely why I said the main emphasis is on faith. The Jewish
scriptures are filled with exhortations to be faithful. A high regard
for understanding the scriptures is secondary to having the faith that
they extoll. Obeying God of course requires faith in Him.

R. J.: "Many eastern religions ... seem a-rational".

That is the problem most westerners have; understanding eastern religions
intellectually. Knowledge of reality is requisite for Hindus and Buddhists.
Reality is different, however, in those religions.

Westerners think flower arranging or other practices of Zen Buddhists are
irrational: "What's the point?". To a Buddhist, western attachments are
totally irrational. It all depends on your knowledge of reality. This is
why knowledge is foremost in the eastern religions. There is also room
for emotion; these are pragmatic religions and have something for every-
one. Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion or love for the Hindu. Mahayana
yaBuddhism is very emotional. It is also very interesting that these two
are also the most popular of the respective religions. People are
basically emotional beings and these religions recognize that, and so
accomodate them with a vehicle that uses emotion. But still, under all
that, the knowledge is necessary and that is why I said knowledge is
foremost to them.

By the way, the mind-control necessary for Hana yoga is highly regarded
as it gets one beyond the apparent world of mind and body, which is
temporary and therefore unimportant, and into the inner layers of the
person and toward the Eternal. (A Hindu point of view).

I do not intend to take any particular position; I'm merely pointing
out different beliefs (they're not necessarily my own). So comments
are welcome, I won't be offended!

B. Walsh