Proletariat Blogging in the Heart of (UK) Predatory Capitalism! Exploring the Interface between Matter and Perception, Chinese Buddhism, Daoism, Hakka Ethnography, and All Aspects of Radical Politics, History, Psychology and Philosophy – 全世界无产者联合起来!
The post discusses Alexander Werth’s book “The Year of Stalingrad” which contradicts Hitler’s presumption about non-existence of churches in Stalingrad. It also raises suspicions about the anti-Soviet propaganda spread by Joseph Goebbels, adopted by US ideologues post-1945, where Werth’s work shows the imperfections in such narratives. Werth’s book alternately portrays how the Russian Orthodox Church collaborated with the Soviet State on a non-political spiritual path.
The early Buddhist groups in China mirrored that of the extant Confucian scholiastic system – often forming around married laymen – with disciples taking the surname of the teacher as their ‘Dharma-Name’ and essentially becoming an extension of his family. Grottoes such as that featured below were places where Buddhists could meet, share and practice their understanding of Indian Buddhist philosophy. An understanding of Buddhist monasticism started to arrive and distinguish itself in China from the existing lay-practice around the 5th century CE – the date I believe this ‘smiling’ monk appears to date from. Whereas Buddhist lay-practitioners did not shave their heads (like Daoists and Confucians) – monastic Buddhists (male and female) were required to shave their heads – indicative of their ‘rejecting’ of the desire-laden conventions that define, guide and justify the external world.
I was told about this interesting individual via an ‘Anarchist Activist’ Telegram Channel! I have no idea if he is a monk – but I doubt it – as such ‘Catholic’ monastics have to follow struct Monastic Rules usually derived from a famous Saint. Furthermore, I am not a supporter of Anarchism – as I think this is merely the ideology of hyper-individualism, almost always right-wing – and an expression of the Bourgeois system. Nevertheless, the careful use of ‘force’ here is interesting – as there is NO come-back from the State!
‘The first verses of al-Qamar are understood by the vast majority of commentators as a reference to a miracle performed by the Prophet. One evening he was addressing a group of disbelievers and Muslims on the plain of Mina, just outside of Makkah. The disbelievers had been disputing with the Prophet for several days, demanding a miracle as proof of his prophethood, and they began to do so again. The Prophet then raised his hand and pointed to the moon, whereupon it appeared to separate into two halves, one on either side of nearby Mt. Hira. He then said, “Bear witness!”, and the line of separation disappeared. All were left speechless, but his opponents soon discounted it as an illusion produced by sorcery. According to one account, one of the disbelievers said, “Muhammed has merely bewitched us, but he cannot bewitch the entire world. Let us wait for travellers to come from faraway places and hear what reports they bring.” Then, when some travellers arrived in Makkah a few days later, they confirmed that they too had witnessed the splitting of the moon.’
Please help Venerable Sumanjyoti Bhante with your donations to build the Vipassana Meditation Center at Aryagiri Hill. Mizoram is a State in Northeast India. Dana
Sometime ago I was introduced to Joseph McCabe. In 1883 in the UK (aged 15) he entered a Franciscan Monastery in the UK. He trained for
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 