Buddhist Stereotypes

Text: Gotta live, gotta love, gotta do the right thing. // Gotta learn, gotta earn, gotta change the world. // Gotta mellow oooout...


(Sorry about the small image size. There's no way to make it larger, it seems.)

For my explanation of a Buddhist stereotype, I chose a strip from a webcomic called Sinfest. Buddha and Buddhism in general are referenced frequently in the series, but the stereotyping is done in jest, and can be seen in his strips involving other religions as well. However, even in jest, the stereotypes still exist, and I have chosen a strip that references two more common ones.

The idea that all Buddhists are blissful all the time is a misconception and an unfortunate stereotype that many see in the religion. Brad Warner references this a lot in his book and we have discussed it in class, so I'll skip over that part. The less obvious stereotype implied in this comic strip is that Buddhists also have no goal, direction, or work ethic in their lives. This follows on the idea that they should be "blissed out" all the time with the idea that if you understand that there is no future, you can never be a part of the business world or be successful in life. The two simply seem like incompatible conceptions of reality.

However, as Warner discusses in chapter 11 of his book, this is not necessarily the case. He explains that practicing Zen Buddhism operates on a different realm than the business world, and in order to successfully operate in the business world, goals are a necessary thing. He stresses the importance of realizing the social constructs that we have created as a society to maintain our interaction with others are exactly that, constructs. (70) He sums all of this up by giving the example of his own life:

"Even though, in Buddhist terms, there is no real future, I still have a retirement fund. When I go out for public appearances I plan ahead -- not very well, mind you -- but I do. I need to know where I'm going, how long it will take to get there, how long I'm supposed to speak, and what Thai restaurants in the area will be open when I'm done. You can't function in society if you don't involve yourself in the fictions society accepts about time. But you do so with the understanding that you're playing a game." (70)

This concept shows that the human social reality and the Buddhist reality of no future are not incompatible after all, they just require thorough reflection and understanding to reconcile.





Below, I've added a series of strips from the same comic that references Buddhism in a less stereotypical way. When I was rereading comics trying to find one for this assignment, I came across this one and found that it was a lot more funny now that, from this class, I had gained some understanding of what Buddhism really meant. When I was doing this assignment I wanted to use the comic, but thought although it was related to a lot of what Brad Warner said in his book, it did not fit as an example of a stereotype.

Also, if you're offended by people making light of religion, I apologize in advance and assure you that this was done in jest.