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by npalli 3853 days ago
> Because it was basically invented by white folks in the last 150 years

This is astonishing. Can you let us know which buddhist principles were invented by white folks (and by whom) in the past 150 years.

1 comments

> Can you let us know which buddhist principles were invented by white folks (and by whom) in the past 150 years.

I don't know to what extent individual principles or beliefs were created. Rather, the argument is that the religion as a whole was created by removing the parts that didn't fit the narrative. Think of it like the Jefferson Bible, but if pretty much the entire living tradition of Christianity was also removed from the religion instead of just redacting and rearranging the text.

That's a rather difficult argument to square with Buddhism still including two entirely separate traditions, and arguably its "purest", least syncretic and most devout forms being in those parts of the world least affected by the West...
The only thing the white folk invented in the past 150 years regarding Buddhism is their books about what they think Buddhism is.