The New Buddhism
David Brazier
published 2001
Constable & Robinson
ISBN: 1 84119 332 1
£7.99 order now
The New Buddhism states clearly and boldly that Buddhism should be and originally was about engagement with the world and about the practice of truth and compassion. It shows that for genuine spiritual renewal Buddhism must be about more than contemplation and personal growth. Buddhism is ‘a raft to carry one across the stream, not something to burden one when one reaches the other shore. Get across that stream as quickly as possible, was [the Buddha’s] message, there’s work to do on the other side . . .’ Brazier restores the idea of the Buddha as a spiritual leader with a vision of a peaceful revolution and takes a completely new look at many aspects of Buddhism, reinterpreting them in terms of the Buddha’s social aims. Western and eastern visions of enlightenment are compared; the mystique of lineage is questioned; the positive social record of Buddhism is examined and Buddhist practice – ethics, mind-training, the teacher-disciple relationship, refuge and renunciation – is reassessed. Above all, the author draws a line between ‘extinction’ Buddhism and ‘liberation’ Buddhism – the former aiming to free the individual from this world, and the latter aiming to perfect this world by freeing it from the large scale forces of greed and delusion. This book is a manifesto for a more active, compassionate and socially engaged Buddhism – one grounded in the Buddha’s original intention.
Reviews from Amazon
This book has attracted more conflicted reviews than most, with a large number of comments on the amazon site, which vary from very enthusiastic to questioning and critical. The variety, no doubt reflects the controversial style of the book that challenges much orthodox thinking in Western Buddhism today. Here are a selection of comments:
“ Having read the book "Zen at War" regarding the role of Zen, in war time Japan, I turnd to this book, to find this is just Marxism disguised as Buddhism,”(Stephen Reeves from Toronto,Canada)
“ One of the best for the serious Buddhist, written to pull no punches this much needed critique is one of the best texts available on this subject. One other reviewer spoke of "naivety" and "simplistic attitudes" and although I respect this reviewer's opinion, I cannot see any of this within this sincere and well presented synopsis.
This same reviewer suggests that the book is offensive; this may be the case to this person, but spirit of this book is not confrontational nor should it bring offence to an open mind. Once again this reviewer complains of the authors description of Zen and feels personally attacked by the author's opinion. He remonstrates against Brazier suggestion he does not have sufficient awareness to make such a comment and that this reviewer has "gleaned so much wisdom and insight" from such practice. It appears this "wisdom and insight" has not generated to greater compassion, understanding or acceptance and that perhaps it is this reviewer who needs to look deeper and not Brazier.
In essence this is a must read for anyone who takes Buddhism seriously and is not just interested in feeling better but wants to understand the Buddha's message. I heartily recommend it. ”(drtwiggy from London)
“ new insight on old issues, David Brazier gives the clearest review I have ever read on various interpretations of Buddhism that have arisen in the course of its long history of tolerance and adaptibility. Alone for his discussions on the interpretations of 'Enlightenment' available to us, this work is a stunner - changing one's view of what meditation is for, and therefor, what one's life may be for.
His passion for an actively compassionate way of life is soundly based in his brief history and exposition of Buddha's teaching - I would add that Buddha's own example of leaving a luxury life for one of search and then of active teaching, supports Brazier's interpretation securely.
The book is a little disturbed by Brazier's long descriptions of what this might lead to right now, but no matter - this is an important philosophical and practical guide to Buddhism as it can be practised today, everywhere.” (kavya from England)
“ A Challenging Book, This is a first class book for all Buddhists who feel the need to relate the Buddhist way of life to the world in which we live over and above the particular, individual insights the Way offers to each of us (which, of course is valuable). The range Brazier covers shows how Buddhism is a family of ideas and practices with big differences, in fact contradictions, between the members of the family. Because of Brazier's open acknowledgement and treatment of these differences, I think, The New Buddhism would also be of interest to non-Buddhists who, having experienced first-hand those differences, are tempted to caste the whole Buddhist way into the fire as 'sophistry and illusion' (no pun intended). Each Buddhist tradition, historically and culturally, has been dependant on the conditions of that time and place. Brazier raises the question of what Buddhism could mean (he may say 'ought' to mean, I don't know) in our time and place. Of course, there is no way anyone can know what the Buddha actually said, he never wrote anything himself and what comes down to us is interpretation, exposition and, no doubt, sheer fabrication. But it is this challenge to place Buddhism in our time and place which makes this book controversial.
The world may be suffering and illusion and yet compassion and wisdom promotes the need to address the conditions and consequences that obtain. This is the strength of the book. Brazier achieves this by questioning Buddhist beliefs and looking for a compassionate way through. The problem is that Buddhists are going to have to think about the issues raised and not respond intolerantly to what is a very real and important challenge to their accepted beliefs and practices.
However, despite his easy style of writing, Brazier's uncritical stress to get back to some sort of original Buddhism is one of the things which I think fails the book along with a few bits of silliness (utopian, in this case) which tends to sneak its way into most Buddhist books - but so what? Any way of life carries with it a responsibility - as has been so clearly highlighted recently by the scandalous behaviour of Zen exposed in 'Zen at War' by Brian Victoria - and Brazier is entitled to dream a bit ... as are we all” (A reader from London)
“ The author attempts to naively dethrone whole areas of Buddhism to purport his social theory against greed, hate and delusion arguing that this is all that the buddha really meant. I felt bamboozled. Good intentions, but the overly simplistic arguments against very sophisticated practices forced me to put it back on the shelf. This book reads like a critical history of Buddhist philosophy from a western philosophy of mind and science perspective” ( allenmanning from London, England)
“ On the positive side an issue that is worthy of further investigation is Braziers attempt to define what is meant by 'enlightenment' in the different genres of Buddhism. Although unlike the editorial review the extinction-liberation issue is not exactly new [it being a/the principle difference between Mahayana and Theravada positions].
The other challenging issue raised is the inherent conflict between the original radicalism of the Buddha and the conservative structures that have grown up to preserve it. However there is little reference given to the fact that by definition if one wishes to get to the 'original' truths then these will be least amended by conservative sects. Additionally he is rather sweeping on the issue of the uninvolvement of Theravda in the wider society [Piyananda's 'Saffron Days' being an excellent counter example q.v.].
Overall a lesson once again that re-interpreting the Dharma in a particular period says more about that period and the re-interpreter than it does about the Dharma” (MRB)
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