China 3

Zen Buddhism in China has become very hierarchical and problematic. The authority of the master is almost unquestioned. He knows everything. He knows how you'll react. He knows how you'll act. He is Superman, beyond good and evil.

Criticism of the central power structure in China is very minimal. There are some comedians brave enough to attempt a critique, but it is done in an very roundabout manner. There are various forces that prevent an effective deconstruction of the Chinese government. First, the Chinese government transfers any hatred its citizens have for the government onto a threatening foreign government. Second, the goverment effects a continuation of ancestor worship onto the government, thereby, fulfilling a the wish for immortality in its citizens, offsetting the need for religion. Scapegoating of minorities and scapegoating of once favorite sons is a method of effecting reverence for the leaders.

Now, what does this have to do with Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism branched off of Buddhism as an interpretation of Buddhism. Buddhists must have meditated on why the "Buddha," the Awakened One, had the possibility of becoming a World Conquerer. How can a spiritual teacher become a World Conquerer? The Buddha opens his eyes and what does he see? The Buddha sees Samsara? What is Samsara? It's really seeing how reality works within the context of sickness, old age, and death. He sees the lovely prostitutes and women in the palace as skeletons. He lives in a palace of sensuality as Siddhartha, assuming that all these people around him love him and adore him when they are actually all positioning themselves for power and status. He sees through this and goes beyond fear and desire. If he comes back to Samsara, he would be a World Conquerer for he fears and desires nothing, but when you are truly beyond fear and desire, visions of the future may come to you or illusions about the future. Or you may just become a monster. Or you become a teacher, like the Buddha.

So, China does have a vision for the future it seems. But what is this vision? Suppose the current economic situation in America continues for another 10 or 20 years, that is, longer working hours with equal or lesser pay for most working and middle class families. Are we going to become more like Chinese or East Asians? If one recreates the situations in one environment and puts it into another environment, do you get the same results? Are Americans going to get more short-tempered, rude, racist, judgemental, impatient, etc.

Is individuality a form of economic, social context? In one sense, one context is a citation of another context. Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe with red background is different from a Marilyn Monroe with a blue background. Contexts from ancient Greece have been carried over to the US, but with the passing of time, the context acts very differently.

The Personality Ethic has been developed as a shortcut in business, but do people with a personality ethic know who they are? They'll act any way in order to get the result, which is making more money for the corporation. Aren't these people just closet Marxists? 

So the Character Ethic is the better Ethic to fight off this attack. This attack is not technically Chinese. It's also liberal. I know the ego causes alot of problems, but one can be God-centered and still have an ego. The sleep of the ego produces monsters.

Joseph's Campbell's followers also are fighting this fight. Some of them want to replace the Old Testament with Buddhism and have everyone be Christ or something like that. There is only One Christ and he is with us every moment of time.