Fred van Zwieten
District DharmaI know a lot of folks on this platform don't have TikTok, but this commentary by Antifascist Dad on Ta-Nehisi Coates's interview with Ezra Klein is really worth the watch, particularly the commentary on how white liberals have used the dharma to blunt social change.
Bram Moreinis@DistrictDharmaCollective @craignicol Yes!!!!! This captures perfectly how I grew to hate the sound of Klein’s podcast voice. The five remembrances are beautiful and they are a reason to take action. Klein left out the last part when he quoted them. “My actions are the ground on which I stand.” If he does not have the courage to take a stand or to act, he doesn’t understand Buddhism or the present moment at all.
EngagedPureLand@DistrictDharmaCollective Don't have TikTok (out of resistance, not disinterest), but this sounds like an important commentary. There's growing research on right-wing/reactionary convert Buddhism. But as is noted here, liberals sometimes play a part in misusing the Dharma in ways that suppress needed social change as well.
@EngagedPureLand I have some time today - let me see if I can find another source to share!
@EngagedPureLand The commentary (which I can't find anywhere else) is on this particular segment. Ta-Nehisi Coates just finished talking about how MLK Jr. was literally killed for loving, and Ezra Klein responded with quoting the Five Rememberances, which is where this opens:
Ezra Klein tells Ta-Nehisi Coates his Buddhist meditation method
@DistrictDharmaCollective Hard to piece together exactly what was said and why with these breadcrumbs. But thank you for trying. What I can see seems odd: Coates talks about the murder of MLK for loving people, and Klein responds [paraphrasing here]: "Buddha says we all die and should remember that"? That seems like a strange rejoinder, borders on disrespectful. But I may not be getting everything.
@EngagedPureLand Yes, that's the moment that was so awkward and tone deaf, which led to the criticism.