monasticism – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Ch’an Dao Blog Article – Neidan As We Get Older! (18.4.2025)

18/04/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

I suspect the ancient Greeks encountered Buddhist monasticism when visiting India (such as Pythagoras), learned the Buddhist method of “looking within”, and then adjusted the technique as a means to “prove” the efficacy of their particular philosophical perspectives (the work of Plotinus may be taken as an example of this endeavour). Later, via the Greeks, a community of Jews (in Qumran) started sitting in meditation to personally attain a “glimpse of Yahweh” – a practice that eventually spread to the reformed Jewish sect of “Christianity” – whose adherents started to meditate whilst sat in the caves found in the Egyptian Desert (this type of Christianity spread to Britain – hundreds of years prior to Catholicism – becoming “Celtic Christianity”).

The Objective Study of Religion Through Logic and Reason! (26.3.2025)

26/03/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Needless to say, the learned Benedictine Brothers were not impressed with my missive – and certainly refused to print it in a Christian academic journal. One Brother took me to one side and explained that the Catholic concept of “Interfaith” was a misnomer – as its true purpose was to have the minds of Buddhists infiltrated by Catholic dogma – and for these Buddhists to “convert” to Christianity as a means to stop their heathen (non-White) souls descending into the fires of hell following their physical death. So far – so good. In military terms – this type of unscripted and quite often messy advance to gain intelligence about the enemy is termed “reconnaissance under fire”. The vehicle through which these Brothers delivered their condescending attitudes was one of racism and discrimination – disguised as religious piety (even those non-Whites who convert – are inferior to White Christians regardless of strength of belief). I was also informed that Asian Buddhists were invariably “Socialistic” – an ideology rejected by the Catholic Church.

UK: The Kind Idiocy of Mary Augusta Ward [1851-1920]! (24.3.2025)

24/03/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

It is incredible that someone such as Bishop Smith thinks that Mary Ward – the co-founder of the “National Women’s Anti-Suffrage League” – is a person worthy of remembering when she dedicated her life to preventing society from developing – a process which required the lifting of the religious ignorance that had dominated the West for over a thousand years. Furthermore, the White, middle-class and thoroughly “male” interpretation of Christianity Bishop Smith and Ward seem to be peddling has virtually nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ – and has more in common with the ramblings of St Paul – a fantasist who never met Jesus. The situation is probably more confusing than even this – as many of the letters ascribed to Paul – particularly the misogynistic editions – are thought to be forgeries.

Email: Studying Monasticism – BMA (UK) – Replying to Comment! (20.2.2025)

20/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

“Your exploration of Christian monasticism as a blueprint for spiritual and communal living is both insightful and thought-provoking. The parallels you draw offer a fresh perspective on how different traditions can inform and enrich one another. Your writing reflects deep contemplation and a genuine appreciation for the wisdom found in monastic practices. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful and well-researched reflection!”

St Albans Abbey: Main-Gate! (28.5.2024)

28/05/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

During 1381 – England came within a hair’s breadth of becoming a People’s Republic! This great effort led by Wat Tyler was eventually defeated through the duplicity of the ruling classes – but its example echoes down through history! The beginnings of this gate stem from the 11th century and the consolidation of the Norman Conquest. This was when Roman Catholicism landed in England as part of the ruling government structure. Prior to this, Celtic Christianity (probably from Egypt) held sway in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. What Catholic presence there was prior to 1066 CE was piece-meal and generally lacked any real political power or influence. The differwence between these two forms of Christianity is that although both possessed a monastic tradition – the Celtic version saw the monastery (not the Church) as the centre of society. Furthermore, the Celtic version possessed a tolerant attitude toward non-Christian beliefs – a position rejected by the Catholic variant. With the coming of the politically empowered Catholic Church – Celtic Christianity was all but wiped-out by the 12th century.

BMA (UK): Secular Monasticism! (27.4.2024)

27/04/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

Of course, the Western monastic traditions can possess similar parallels – but this should negate the history or purpose of slavish-types of religion. Conventional religion is not the answer – as invariably this developed within a primitive tribal and/or feudalistic environment. Traditionally, conventional religion was designed to maintain a certain hierarchy and status quo with no change from generation to generation. However, once the means of production have changed hands and religion has been transformed into a Revolutionary vehicle – then certain aspect of religious practice might be useful for freeing the working class from oppression!

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