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Was the Buddha Betrayed?
Recently, I posted an article on Facebook discussing how Buddhism began as a reform movement — an explicit rebellion against religious authoritarianism and blind faith. In response, a Buddhist monk friend raised a thought-provoking question:
So what went wrong? Buddhism, especially Mahayana, is full of ritual and ceremony. For many, this is their only practice. Why has it devolved into mere superstition or a belief model for so many? Even Chan, which was created to counteract this distortion, has itself become ritualistic, with practitioners wearing special robes to look the part. Efforts to modernize Chinese Buddhism over the last century have made little progress.
This is a crucial issue, one that has occupied my thoughts for many years. After reflecting, I offered the following response:
Dear Brother,
Thank you for engaging deeply with my work and raising such critical questions. Your concerns resonate with many who cherish the Dharma’s transformative core. While I, too, long for a purer expression of the teachings, I believe the evolution of Buddhism — including its ritual dimensions — reflects both historical necessity and the tension between idealism and pragmatism. Allow me to offer a few reflections in dialogue with your concerns.
