A Critique of Western Buddhism: Ruins of the Buddhist Real

by Glenn Wallis

Overview

This book is open access and available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. It is funded by Knowledge Unlatched.
What are we to make of Western Buddhism? Glenn Wallis argues that in aligning their tradition with the contemporary wellness industry, Western Buddhists evade the consequences of Buddhist thought. This book shows that with concepts such as vanishing, nihility, extinction, contingency, and no-self, Buddhism, like all potent systems of thought, articulates a notion of the “real.” Raw, unflinching acceptance of this real is held by Buddhism to be at the very core of human “awakening.” Yet these preeminent human truths are universally shored up against in contemporary Buddhist practice, contravening the very heart of Buddhism.

The author's critique of Western Buddhism is threefold. It is immanent, in emerging out of Buddhist thought but taking it beyond what it itself publicly concedes; negative, in employing the “democratizing” deconstructive methods of François Laruelle's non-philosophy; and re-descriptive, in applying Laruelle's concept of philofiction. Through applying resources of Continental philosophy to Western Buddhism, A Critique of Western Buddhism suggests a possible practice for our time, an "anthropotechnic", or religion transposed from its seductive, but misguiding, idealist haven.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474283557
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/06/2018
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Glenn Wallis is an independent scholar and Director of Incite Seminars in Philadelphia, USA. He has taught at several universities, including Brown University, USA, and the University of Georgia, USA. His books include Cruel Theory/Sublime Practice: Toward a Revaluation of Buddhism (2012) and Mediating the Power of Buddhas (2001).

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part One
Introduction: Raise the Curtain on the Theater of Western Buddhism!
1. The Snares of Wisdom
2. Specters of the Real
3. First Names of the Buddhist Real
Part Two
4. Non-Buddhism
5. Immanent Practice
Part Three
6. Buddhofiction
7. Meditation in Ruin
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Having read through the book a second time I can say without hesitation that A Critique of Western Buddhism is one of the most important books ever written on the subject of Buddhism-certainly the most important in the decades since Buddhism has established itself as an ideological resident here in the West.” —The Failed Buddhist

“The single most important book of contemporary Buddhist philosophic reflection. Wallis' critique masterfully addresses the twinned questions central to contemporary Buddhism: 'What use is being made of Buddhism today?' and 'What use is Buddhism today?'” —Richard K. Payne, Yehan Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhist Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies, USA

“It is a very rare and precious thing to find a book such as this, which engages as deeply with religious materials as it does with the philosophical. Glenn Wallis brings together resources from Continental philosophy, namely François Laruelle's non-philosophy, and concepts and ideas from Buddhism to carry out a A fecund project that grows in the ruins of our philosophical and religious pretensions and arrogance.”” —Anthony Paul Smith, Associate Professor of Philosophical Theology, La Salle University, USA

“Glenn Wallis' Critique of Western Budism is one of the rare examples of non-philosophy applied on a specific subject area, next to Anthony Paul Smith's non-philosophical environmental studies, John O'Maoilearca's animal studies as well non-Marxism. It proves that non-philosophy is praxis grounded rather than being self-sufficient system of philosophical diagnostics. Wallis' brilliant analysis demonstrates that radicalized Buddhism establishes a perfect homology with non-philosophy, both in form and in substance.” —Katerina Kolozova, Professor of Philosophy and Gender Studies, University American College, Macedonia

“Wallis' Critique is a bold commentary and analysis of Western Buddhism that runs against the mainstream. His central arguments are convincing and should certainly enter into discussions of "mindfulness" practices and adaptions of Buddhism in Western societies. This book will challenge the thinking and practice of many readers, make some uncomfortable, but will be a life preserver for others.” —Stuart W Smithers, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Puget Sound, USA

“It is safe to say that this book is not for the faint-hearted. Not only does it force the reader to query with honest dedication into the depths of a vast living tradition, Buddhism, which has chunky ancient roots and innumerable old and new branches as well; it also obliges one to come up to par with the demands of current Continental philosophy, namely, that of the non-philosophy of François Laruelle. ... Wallis's endeavor has produced a seminal critical text that asks more profound questions and comes up with more promising answers than most of what we could find in the past half-century's literature on Buddhism in the West.” —Religious Studies Review

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