Delving into Buddhist literature

Dumoulin and Maraldo worked together several years ago to create a book that would highlight the cultural and religious aspect of Buddhism post-World War two.

Yesterday I began my journey delving into Buddhist literature while reading Heinrich Dumoulin and John C. Maraldo’s “The Cultural, Political and Religious Significance of Buddhism in the Modern World”. What a long, breathtaking title. But truly, how warranted I find this title to be. Because yes, we do delve into the nittiest gritty bits of it all. 

Dumoulin and Maraldo worked together several years ago to create a book that would highlight the cultural and religious aspect of Buddhism post-World War two.

I'm slowly inching through reading this book and I've made so many connections to my personal life through the text. For example, I've learned that Buddhism and its teachings are so ancient that they've basically had an impact on everyone today... Maybe without them even realizing this. I believe this to be because of the fact that the Buddhist Dharmas are considered to be universal truths. According to what the writers describe Buddhists to believe, a dharma is a universal truth that could be applied not only to all of humanity during all of time but also to each individual being on this planet whether or not they are human or conscious of their lives. I believe this is also a great reminder to myself and humanity that the fish is no better or different from the dog, and the dog is no worse or better than the human. 

As a creative writer who loves writing fiction and fantasy, I'm also realizing that this is also another avenue I can apply to my own writing. If I were to write about dragons interacting with humans, I feel like the easy way out would be to characterize them as these monstrous beings that are mythical and larger than life. And I believe this is why I loved watching Game of thrones so much. 

In game of thrones, the dragons are characters interacting with the ensemble or cast of the show. The dragons aren't beings summoned in a pillar of smoke, but rather life companions who understand loyalty, respect and dignity.

The dragon is no different from the dog. The dog is no different from the fish. The fish is no different from the man. The man is no different from the woman. We are all alive, whether in this realm or in a fictional world, all these beings exist in life together to build a harmonious world for better or for worse. And yet we all suffer in starvation, destruction, creation and the rebirth of it all, just to end in death

Any who, that's what I've grasped from the first seven pages of this book. Be sure to like and share to keep up with my learning experience… you might learn something new along the way too! 

Best,

Stephan L.