Re: "Attack of the White Buddhists" by Justin Chin
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:25 pm
Uan,
I met these students in my Mandarin class at university, so I do have a wish to learn about Chinese culture. I have spent 11 months total living in Chinese monasteries-both in Taiwan and USA (City of Ten Thousand Buddhas). So while I cannot say I am an expert on Chinese culture or even well informed as it is exceedingly rich, ancient and complex, I do have more exposure to it than your average White Canadian.
You misunderstand when I say other considerations. To work as a peer councillor at my school, I underwent an intensive exercise known as Blue Eyes Brown Eyes Pioneered by Jane Elliot. I linked to her in another thread. Part of what I learned was that as a White male I should not generally take the lead in talking about oppression outside my position of privilege. That is my general rule. And I usually take the role of listener in these conversations as I aknowledge I am part of the priveleged group in my country of origin. I can change out of my robes when I walk the street (though perhaps out of stubborness but also a sense of commitment I never do.) People cannot change their skin colour.
However, I speak Tibetan and have lived with Tibetans for nearly 10 years of my life, and been involved in TB for over 17. I have seen bullet scars, heard heart wrenching stories of torture and know the perilous precipice of obliteration which Tibetan language and culture are facing. So, though I normally wouldn't say anything, in this case I do.
When the lama I translate for daily cannot confirm whether members of his family are dead, alive or in prison I cannot remain silent in the face of terrible misinformation widely believed by some in the Chinese overseas community and consider myself loyal to the teachers who have opened the door of dharma for me.
Just as I as an upstanding white man must facd the music of the racist foundation upon which privilege is built, even if those students are uncomfortable the horrible misinformation if the Chinese government must be exposed for what it is. Because I can speak Tibetan and have Tibetan friends, at least I can share some of my knowledge.
As I said,normally I know as a White man it isn't my place, but Tibet is burning so there are extenuating circumstances.
I met these students in my Mandarin class at university, so I do have a wish to learn about Chinese culture. I have spent 11 months total living in Chinese monasteries-both in Taiwan and USA (City of Ten Thousand Buddhas). So while I cannot say I am an expert on Chinese culture or even well informed as it is exceedingly rich, ancient and complex, I do have more exposure to it than your average White Canadian.
You misunderstand when I say other considerations. To work as a peer councillor at my school, I underwent an intensive exercise known as Blue Eyes Brown Eyes Pioneered by Jane Elliot. I linked to her in another thread. Part of what I learned was that as a White male I should not generally take the lead in talking about oppression outside my position of privilege. That is my general rule. And I usually take the role of listener in these conversations as I aknowledge I am part of the priveleged group in my country of origin. I can change out of my robes when I walk the street (though perhaps out of stubborness but also a sense of commitment I never do.) People cannot change their skin colour.
However, I speak Tibetan and have lived with Tibetans for nearly 10 years of my life, and been involved in TB for over 17. I have seen bullet scars, heard heart wrenching stories of torture and know the perilous precipice of obliteration which Tibetan language and culture are facing. So, though I normally wouldn't say anything, in this case I do.
When the lama I translate for daily cannot confirm whether members of his family are dead, alive or in prison I cannot remain silent in the face of terrible misinformation widely believed by some in the Chinese overseas community and consider myself loyal to the teachers who have opened the door of dharma for me.
Just as I as an upstanding white man must facd the music of the racist foundation upon which privilege is built, even if those students are uncomfortable the horrible misinformation if the Chinese government must be exposed for what it is. Because I can speak Tibetan and have Tibetan friends, at least I can share some of my knowledge.
As I said,normally I know as a White man it isn't my place, but Tibet is burning so there are extenuating circumstances.