Vipassana and Fundamentalism
Clyde Ford’s interview from a few years ago covered a wide range of issues. As an anti-racism trainer who worked with teachers and students in the Goenka vipassana tradition, and as a practitioner himself who is highly appreciative of the silent retreats offered here, he also spoke honestly about the unique characteristic of fundamentalism that is found in some vipassana communities in the West. This excerpt touches upon the latter topic.
“That’s a level of fundamentalism that cuts across spiritual practice and religious traditions. And I think it infuses some of the things in the Vipassanā community as well.”
“In the West, there's this tradition of fundamentalism, and by fundamentalism, I mean, that there's a right set of teachings, there's a right way to do it, and if you're not doing it the right way, there's something wrong with you, and you don't belong in this community. That's a level of fundamentalism that cuts across spiritual practice and religious traditions. And I think [it], unfortunately, infuses some of the things in the Vipassanā community as well, too. So, I'm not a fundamentalist in that way.
I do very much aspire and attribute my own personal meditation practice and success to the core teachings. But adhering to core teachings, and having a fundamentalist point-of-view are two very, very different things. I think those can be confused; particularly in the West, I see them confused. I think it has something to do with the Western traditions that we come from, which are really based on these very stark contrasts between right and wrong, black and white, and in many ways don't reflect the Buddha’s teachings of finding that Middle Way. It's strange that even within a spiritual tradition that talks about the Middle Way, you find such level of fundamentalism and dogma, which [does not] always help us [to] be and enlarge what it is we're doing in the best way.”