In this post, from Arcade (links below), Timothy Morton asks, “Why do humanists attack cartoons of Buddhism?” You will, of course, formulate your own response. My immediate response was: I am curious about why you (i.e., Timothy Morton) are interested in this project of defending Buddhism against the “Buddhaphobics.” I find it particularly curious since, as far as I can tell, there are woefully few serious critics of Buddhism around. (And by “Buddhism,” I mean the textual/doctrinal record as well as its various forms of practice in both Asia and North America.) We are awash in content believers, benign interpreters, and supportive apologists. If Buddhism is to mature in the West, don’t we need, as a next step in this maturation process, a body of sustained critical-constructive responses to Buddhism? Zizek’s critique strikes me as a speculative opportunity. It at least makes possible an exploration of issues that the Pollyanna-driven Buddhism industry in advance forecloses on. I hope, by the way, you’ll tell us more about Lacan’s critique. (Glenn Wallis)
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