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The Doctrine of Awakening: The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts

by Julius Evola

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Reader said: " **Warning!**
I couldn't help but be shocked by InnerTraditions having published this book without a culturally sensitive warning about its contents (if there is one, my apologies and see the disclaimer below). Nonetheless, given the awfully divided wo **Warning!**
I couldn't help but be shocked by InnerTraditions having published this book without a culturally sensitive warning about its contents (if there is one, my apologies and see the disclaimer below). Nonetheless, given the awfully divided world we still live in and how easy it is to be fooled by words in a book (however overt or covert they may be) readers should be aware this book spouts white supremacist ideologies under the false notion that this is what the Buddha actually taught. Julius Evola was a racist and a fascist. Whilst I would not say we should throw the baby out with the bath water and burn the book (being nuanced if I actually read it I'm sure there is some great stuff on the Pali discourses in here). However, readers coming to this without prior knowledge of Buddhism might be duped by the extreme racism it spouts as "truth". This book was originally published in 1943 so naturally represents views that were held back by practically everybody in Europe. Whilst these views are outdated, sadly they are still held by those who want to spread hate and discord. Don't be one of those please. And don't be swayed by such nonsense no matter how convincing an academic author's rhetoric might sound. The Buddha taught that love conquers hate and that we're all the same (see next paragraph).

FYI: The Buddha as far as I'm aware was quite the radical of his time alongside the Jain leader known as the Mahavira; both of whom rejected the caste system of Ancient India. The Buddha took no issue, and in fact, actively encouraged people from all walks of life and their respective social stations to join his following. Furthermore, in contrary to a statement I found in this book whilst skimming through bits, Buddhism was incredibly democratic and the Pali scholar Richard Gombrich has wrote extensively of the Buddha's use of satire to bend religous concepts common to his day to suit his own teachings (see What The Buddha Thought, brilliant book!) Much of this play-on-themes and satire was completely lost when Buddhism spread around the world as it was removed from its cultural melting pot. Therefore, some things would be taken more literally. So, whilst I cannot provide proof of this, as I am a layperson when it comes to Buddhist academia, I would venture to say that the Buddha was employing his aforementioned satire when he used the word "ariya" and extended its meaning to include everybody regardless of race or ethnicity to be regarded "noble" should they have completed his path of morality and meditation. This would certainly tie-in with his equitable and inclusive views.

Disclaimer: I only skimmed the table of contents and one chapter of this book as I was just doing some general research so I haven't read it entirely. This is more of a moral heads-up and clarification than a review. ...more "

May 26, 2024 01:51PM · see review