A Feminist-Turned-Buddhist Criticizes Modern-Day Feminism

[Captain Courageous]

This article is taken from the Buddhist blog titled Akashavana. The author traces her experiences during her transition from being a full-time Feminist in London to being an ordained Buddhist in the Western Buddhist Order. Many of the conclusions she reaches echo the sentiments of MRA's. What a pleasant surprise!

Here are a few of the best excerpts from this long article:

"Giving women the opportunity to live an independent life was not enough.There were deeper emotional and psychological issues which a new home and welfare benefits did not address. The lack of real friendship was one, as was the lack of real community. Feminist theories, to the extent that I understood them, did not tackle these deeper emotional issues. Neither did they address the increasingly angry debates taking place within the women's movement, which led to more and more exclusive groupings. In some circles it seemed no longer possible to communicate with another woman unless she shared the same race, class, and sexual orientation. [ ... ]

"Much as I still related to what I saw as the positive aspects of feminism, I could not erase from my consciousness the graffito I had glimpsed from the top deck of a bus, close to an area in which I had lived for many years: 'Kill Men.' I can still feel the recoil in my guts. How could I identify with a movement, an extreme faction of which spawned such hatred? [ ... ]

"This opens up an ethical dimension which is absent in both liberal and radical feminism. This is not to say that feminists do not express strong views about what is right (morally and politically speaking) and what is wrong. But there is no consensus among feminists about the criteria that distinguish ethical from unethical actions. According to Buddhism the practice of ethics is the necessary basis upon which higher states of consciousness can arise. These states, combined with reflection on the Dharma, can lead in turn to insight into reality an understanding of human life that goes far beyond the intellectual and brings about a fundamental change in our being and our relationship with others. Feminism does bring about change, but it is change on a psychological and social level. Though this level of change can help us to overcome some of our restrictive conditioning as women it does not begin to give us access to our full potential as human beings. Indeed, some aspects of feminism are inimical to this process. [ ... ]

"Of Feminism (with a capital F) Sangharakshita says that it �covers many other attitudes. One of these is the tendency to see woman as victim.' To identify oneself as a victim is not helpful to one's development. It undermines one's capacity to take the initiative and act creatively however difficult the situation. In this shift from feminism to Feminism the idea that women have been discriminated against becomes the basis for an ideology a dogma that does not allow for the individuality either of the woman who upholds it or of the man she casts in the role of oppressor. Such an ideology, as Sangharakshita points out, also encourages hatred, and hatred is utterly incompatible with the Dharma. Moreover, it creates oppression within its own sphere: certain views become taboo and politically incorrect and are not allowed expression. A group mentality prevails. Bonding with other women against the �enemy' is not the same as true friendship. One of the fundamental practices of Buddhism is the development of loving-kindness or metta; and metta does not distinguish between male and female. Within this ideology there is also the confusion of power with freedom. Feminists demand the transference of power from the oppressor to themselves, the oppressed - but there is no guarantee at all that women would use that power, once gained, in a better way. Men and women are equally afflicted by greed, hatred, and delusion."

http://www.akashavana.org/index.php?static=articles_feminismAndBuddhism

[dr e]

Very important words.  Feminism is incompatible with a loving consciousness.  Period.  Nice way to put it.  Very succinct.

[Captain Courageous]

Buddhists are big on managing anger and cutting through delusion.

Pema Chödrön: What To Do When The Going Gets Rough   
By Pema Chödrön

Pema Chödrön on four ways to hold our minds steady and hearts open when facing difficult people or circumstances.

The most straightforward advice on awakening enlightened mind is this: practice not causing harm to anyone--yourself or others--and every day, do what you can to be helpful. If we take this instruction to heart and begin to use it, we will probably find that it is not so easy. Before we know it, someone has provoked us, and either directly or indirectly, we've caused harm.

Therefore, when our intention is sincere but the going gets rough, must of us could use some help. We could use some fundamental instruction on how to lighten up and turn around our well-established habits of striking out and blaming.

The four methods for holding our seat provide just such support for developing the patience to stay open to what's happening instead of acting on automatic pilot. These four methods are:

1. not setting up the target for the arrow,

2. connecting with the heart,

3. seeing obstacles as teachers, and

4. regarding all that occurs as a dream.

http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1696&Itemid=0

[wractor]

Great post, thanks for sharing.

I'm about ready to ditch Christianity in favor of Buddhism (although still believing in Christ and following His example). Too many people are using the religion as an excuse to be bigots, whereas Buddhism's all about peace.

[SIAM]

The middle path.  The path few seem to travel!

[Captain Courageous]

Great post, thanks for sharing.

I'm about ready to ditch Christianity in favor of Buddhism (although still believing in Christ and following His example). Too many people are using the religion as an excuse to be bigots, whereas Buddhism's all about peace.

It's OK to be Buddhist and accept Jesus ... at least with the Buddhists.
May I recommend a good and easy-to-read book?

"Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nat Hahn

[wractor]

Thanks again...I was hoping somebody wrote something on fusing the two.

[Captain Courageous]

Very important words.  Feminism is incompatible with a loving consciousness.  Period.  Nice way to put it.  Very succinct.

This was written by feminist bell hooks in an article about her meeting with Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nat Hahn:

Just as the energy of a racially-based civil rights liberation struggle was moving away from a call for love, the women's movement also launched a critique of love, calling on females to forget about love so that we might seize power. When I was nineteen participating in feminist consciousness-raising groups, love was dismissed as irrelevant. It was our "addiction to love" that kept us sleeping with the enemy (men). To be free, our militant feminist leaders told us, we needed to stop making love the center of our imaginations and yearnings. Love could be a good woman's downfall.

http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1844

[dr e]

Gotta love Thich Nat Hahn.  He has been doing some good work.

Thanks for the quote Captain.  It says it all.  Feminists don't like the idea of love since it has to do with interdependence, irrationality, and caring about someone other than oneself.  I still like the slogan I posted a while back that feminism "is the radical notion that women are men."  LOL  They hold onto a stereotypical idea of what a man is and then they try to imitate it.  It is sad to see such ignorance and encouragement of others to practice such ignorance. 

Better to listen to Dali Lama or Thich Nat Hahn.

[Cordell Walker]

there is a good buddhist book I read called "everyday zen"

[Captain Courageous]

This is a "virtual" Zendo. It is located in Japan and run by Zen Teacher "Jundo" Cohen.
It also has its own forum. If you are interested, go to the Tree Leaf Zendo website listed here:
            http://www.treeleaf.org/

[Captain Courageous]

there is a good buddhist book I read called "everyday zen"

Charlotte "Joko" Beck: http://www.prairiezen.org/CJB.htm

Master Cordell - "Gassho!"