The Buddha as a Businessman

Gregory Schopen, chair of the UCLA Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and an authority on ancient Indian Buddhism has been separating Buddhist fact from fiction for the past 30 years. In this UCLA Faculty Research Lecture, Schopen explores the Buddha as an astute businessman, economist and lawyer Series: UCLA Faculty Research Lectures [5/2009] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16444]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• buddha
• business
• economics
• law
• gregory
• schopen
• whole
• life

[DoctorYoon]

I don't know if he is trying to degrade Buddhism of it's spiritual value, but if he is, then he fails at it. Anything you want to have in a society requires money, the Buddha only says not to be attached to these things but use them for skillful things, apparently this guy is attached to the idea that money degrades its spiritual value, but money only a thing to use for temporary goals. Not something to be attached to.

[mcabevere]

lastly, one example to think, universities solicit money from the rich and the government, do you label them as money-seeking business organisation or educational institutions? fcuk the guy who thinks he is clever because he can make bad image out of a great enlightened man.

[baremetal]

Nice "clown" tie. One sees "perfection."

[rseyedoc]

He does not portray Buddha as bad or Buddhists as bad nor did he challenge any of Buddhas teachings. He only challenged our image of Buddha, which many have great attachement to, as relatively poor and unconcerned with money and law. Considering he was the son of a King, it stands to reason he had a good grasp of law, economics and government.  I am sure that although he had no attachment these things he understood the practical necessity of dealing with them.

[kayoneill01]

I've been a Kyoshi (teachings master) of a major tradition of Japanese Buddhism since 1972, before that earning a MA in a Japanese Buddhist graduate program. Decades of primary research done the old fashion way within the tradition establishes this much about Greg's work: he's right on the money, much to the embarrassment of Western colonialist reductionist interpretation. What a breath of fresh air!

[jbearden]

Buddhism is the "middle way", and is not about "ascetics". That business was transacted only surprises this gentleman, who then ties it all in with his own modern business ideology, and does exceptionally lazy work, and presents it here for your "education". He will go the whole, unnecessarily long way, to present to you that Buddhism was little more than a business. This is, of course, a ridiculous stretch of the truth, and I bet he gets paid, himself, to lecture on this very topic. 

[diehardCCfan]

@amilagmail Yeah you're right. Winning the MacArthur Fellowship award doesn't mean anything.

[amilagmail]

he dont know buddhism and history. anathapindika is a minor??? u r clearly not studied enough.

[osip7315]

actually buddists today seem to "invest" in lame ideas, there was a heap more sense in the old ways which sounds like a commercial bank basically

[mattblackbigmouth]

I think the reactions to Prof Schopen's research from Buddhists are very revealing.

[heartscheck]

@mcabevere actually... universities do get money from the rich and the government, millions of dollars are donated every year. In a sense, they're both money-seeking business organizations and educational institutions.