Book Review on FWBO News
I've just published my review of British Buddhism : Teachings, Practice And Development by Robert Bluck over on fwbo-news.org. This is a very interesting book. Bluck is an academic who has made a detailed study of the seven largest Buddhist groups in the UK - the book is based on his doctoral thesis. Amongst the clamour of internet self-publicists it is very refreshing to read a real attempt at a neutral point of view by someone with no obvious agenda. Bluck is not uncritical of the FWBO, but he concludes that most of the criticism from sources such as the until recently anonymous FWBO Files (actually written by Gary Beasley) is unfair.
Bluck suggests that the conscious isolationism of the FWBO during it's teens and twenties has been a major reason why the criticism has continued, because it prevented a dialogue from taking place about the FWBO's innovative approach to Dharma practice. The FWBO now has members on the executives of the Network of Buddhist Organisations, and the UK Network of Engaged Buddhism, as well as being active in pan-Buddhist organisations such as the European Buddhist Union and the International NEB. These connections are beginning to bear fruit in a more open and understanding relationship between the FWBO and other Buddhist groups. One good place to follow some of the meetings that are going on at which the FWBO is represented is Dhammarati's blog.
Perhaps surprisingly Bluck concludes that the various Buddhist groups have a lot more in common than it seems at first glance and that they share many of the same dilemmas in trying to transplant the Dharma in the west, even if they come up with different solutions to those dilemmas. I found his treatment of the NKT and Soka Gakkai equally even handed, and learned a lot in reading about them - again they have often been criticised unfairly. All in all the book is a very useful outsiders view of the FWBO and some other prominent UK Buddhist groups.
Unfortunately the book is hideously expensive so it may not get a very wide circulation - I'm suggesting that every centre buy a copy which might help to create a demand for a paperback edition. I plan to circulate a precis of the FWBO chapter so that people can get an idea of what it says.
Bluck suggests that the conscious isolationism of the FWBO during it's teens and twenties has been a major reason why the criticism has continued, because it prevented a dialogue from taking place about the FWBO's innovative approach to Dharma practice. The FWBO now has members on the executives of the Network of Buddhist Organisations, and the UK Network of Engaged Buddhism, as well as being active in pan-Buddhist organisations such as the European Buddhist Union and the International NEB. These connections are beginning to bear fruit in a more open and understanding relationship between the FWBO and other Buddhist groups. One good place to follow some of the meetings that are going on at which the FWBO is represented is Dhammarati's blog.
Perhaps surprisingly Bluck concludes that the various Buddhist groups have a lot more in common than it seems at first glance and that they share many of the same dilemmas in trying to transplant the Dharma in the west, even if they come up with different solutions to those dilemmas. I found his treatment of the NKT and Soka Gakkai equally even handed, and learned a lot in reading about them - again they have often been criticised unfairly. All in all the book is a very useful outsiders view of the FWBO and some other prominent UK Buddhist groups.
Unfortunately the book is hideously expensive so it may not get a very wide circulation - I'm suggesting that every centre buy a copy which might help to create a demand for a paperback edition. I plan to circulate a precis of the FWBO chapter so that people can get an idea of what it says.
posted by Jayarava @ 8:20 pm
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