
From No Selves, No Masters by reed w ingalls
A friend of mine who teaches foreign language reminded me today of a curious problem in English. We don’t often take the time to understand what our compound words and prefixes do to the meaning of a term. For example, anarcho-communism is often used synonymously with anarchism, libertarian socialism and so on. However, the order of the words and hyphenation indicate that communism is the subject, and anarchism is the modifier. What kind of communism? Anarchist communism.
I run into similar problems when discussing buddhism and socialism/anarchism. Some people prefer “anarcho-buddhism”. I typically use buddhist anarchism. These concepts are similar but not identical. Like anarcho-communism, anarcho-buddhism implies a modification of buddhism by anarchism, a buddhism made more anarchic. As a project or an ideology I think this makes plenty of sense. What I am focusing on, however, is buddhist anarchism. Here, the modification runs the other way. It is an anarchist praxis inflected with buddhist ideology. For the purposes of historical research, this works better.
As far as I know, at least until the mid 20th century, there have been few to no anarcho-buddhists. What there have been in relative abundance are buddhists who have participated in the anarchist movement. Necessarily this has colored both realms of ideological commitment, but the directionality is clear. I think that as a model for religious socialism in the present this also works more coherently. Anarchism is an ideology of action and buddhism one of contemplation. There are of course countless exceptions to this rule. But I think that when anarchism’s energy is directed inward, towards spiritual practice, it tends to lose its edge, just as a buddhism which is overly engaged with the world loses its. Engagement and contemplation form a dialectic, as can buddhism and anarchism, but in terms of strategy and specialization they are radically different. That said, when it comes to political action buddhism is better served by taking its cues from organized anarchism and socialism. From there it can lend its own unique flavor, bringing particular forms of contemplation, ethics, and insight into the class struggle.
To do the reverse, to “anarchize” buddhism, also has its merits, but can be at best a minor reformist movement within an already marginal religion. Better to let the insights of anarchism flow back into the dharma through a direct engagement with revolutionary theory and action.
To illustrate my point, we can study past buddhist anarchists like Uchiyama Gudo, Taixu, and Ichikawa Hakugen. All demonstrated a mix of Buddhist anarchism and anarcho-buddhism, to different degrees and measures of success.
Gudo, a low-ranking village priest, made little attempt at Japanese dharma reform, choosing instead to educate, agitate, and organize directly with rural workers, youth, and other socialists. The impact of his social work is difficult to measure, as was the aftermath of his trial and execution in 1911. In his writings Gudo saw harmony between an anarchist and a buddhist worldview, but did not try to force this synthesis further or create a new doctrine.
Taixu spent many years active as a writer in the socialist movement before burning out and returning to his dharma reform efforts. Some lingering anarchist influence can be felt in his reforms, which eventually inspired new popular movements within buddhism, but it can’t be properly called anarcho-buddhism.
Ichikawa spent most of his career critiquing Zen on one front and as an anti-war activist on the other. In between he engaged with the post-war anarchist movement, though the extent of his involvement is difficult to discern. Of the three he came closest to suggesting an anarcho-buddhism through his critique of japanese buddhist socialism, but his praxis retained an outward focus. He was more a critic than a reformer, but he was not above fighting for reforms on multiple fronts, from militarism to education.
Buddhist anarchism and anarcho- buddhism will probably continue to be used interchangeably, but I would like to advocate for buddhist anarchism, because it retains an appropriate separation of very distinct ideological traditions and kinds of praxis. This leaves enough room for diverse interpretations of both doctrines to flourish while allowing equally diverse mutual influence to occur naturally. We don’t need a new anarcho-buddhist dogma to argue over. Unlike anarcho-communism, anarcho-buddhism is not a coherent political and economic program with an established strategy for attaining its goal. It is at best an affinity or an intertwining of streams leading towards distinct but complementary forms of freedom.
Comments
Well that's 10 minutes of my
anon (not verified) Sat, 07/16/2022 - 17:24
Well that's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back... this "essay" is pointless. "Here's three guys who exemplify what I'm talking about, but not really". "Here's an attempt to describe something that is actually incoherent". Bro desperately needs an editor or at least a sounding board.
it took you 10 minutes to
anon (not verified) Sat, 07/16/2022 - 20:59
In reply to Well that's 10 minutes of my by anon (not verified)
it took you 10 minutes to read this short thing?!! i bet you didn't even read it. i appreciated the musings, even though it was somewhat forgettable and superficial. definitely worth the minute it took me to read it. 10/10 would read again
",,,worth the minute it took
anon (not verified) Sun, 07/17/2022 - 06:57
In reply to it took you 10 minutes to by anon (not verified)
",,,worth the minute it took me to read it 10/10"
So, this essay of approx. 800 words took 1min, or 60 seconds to read.
Soooo, 800 divided by 60 equals 13 words approx, per second. I assume the 10/10 is for your speed reading, cos glimpsing 13 words per second does nothing towards you actually understanding the context.
I would call myself an anarch
Le Way, (not verified) Sat, 07/16/2022 - 19:12
I would call myself an anarch-zen proponent, the zen element is merely the expression of spontaneous 1st person emotions and an emphasis on a non-materialistic perspective in daily relationships, that well-being is an internal matter removed from the ephemeral spectacles that surround us in this life.
Its interesting about language, for instance, that many indigenous languages don't have a word for thankyou because in a gift economy giving things is the normal and therefore saying thanks is meaningless, and I think the zen mind is in a similar psychic dimension as are the indigenous consciousnesses.
This is an interesting idea which could attract more to anarch thinking and also help defusing the stigma attached to the anarchist milieu.
LeWank does it again, nearly
anon (not verified) Sat, 07/16/2022 - 19:44
In reply to I would call myself an anarch by Le Way, (not verified)
LeWank does it again, nearly surpassing his usual steam of inanity. Or is it a random copypasta?
Zen Buddists, at least in the
anon (not verified) Sun, 07/17/2022 - 12:33
Zen Buddists, at least in the US, are notorious fucked up pro-Nazis, too. It's well-documented. Don't "anarchize" them too fast before considering their shitty background politics.
Care to back up your "well
ZenFluffer90210 (not verified) Sun, 07/17/2022 - 14:12
In reply to Zen Buddists, at least in the by anon (not verified)
Care to back up your "well documented" assertion with some proof, 12:33?
U know, like before Facebook
anon (not verified) Mon, 07/18/2022 - 06:08
In reply to Care to back up your "well by ZenFluffer90210 (not verified)
U know, like before Facebook there was such a thing as internet search engines...
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=zen+buddhists+nazis&ia=web
A general search engine link
ZenIncelKillah (not verified) Mon, 07/18/2022 - 07:36
In reply to U know, like before Facebook by anon (not verified)
A general search engine link does not provide proof of your bullshit assertion that "Zen Buddists, at least in the US, are notorious fucked up pro-Nazis, too. It's well-documented". You didn't provide specifics because you're full of shit and telling outright lies. See? Proof about you: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=anon+is+an+incel
Anarcho-zen is a totally
Le Way, (not verified) Sun, 07/17/2022 - 17:15
In reply to Zen Buddists, at least in the by anon (not verified)
Anarcho-zen is a totally different perspective than is the Zen Buddhist with its cultural baggage.
But anything that raises us above the mechanistic treadmill that capitalist existence forces upon us is a good start.
This is a million times
anon (not verified) Sun, 07/17/2022 - 17:41
This is a million times better than LeWank's blathering and the OP's rambling
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/kerry-thornley-zenarchy
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