From: laelth@yabbs
To: balistic@yabbs
Subject: Eastern Religions
Date: Fri Aug 12 01:12:38 1994
I've got several friends that are really into Eastern religions.
I'm personally attracted to the teachings of Kung Fu Tse.
Nevertheless, I'm skeptical of the Western desire to turn to the
East for answers.  The fact is that we are Western.  We think in 
Western languages, and as hard as we may try on an individual level
to become more "Eastern" this may be an almost impossible goal for 
us to attain, for invariably we will "Westernize" any Eastern religion
that we encounter and pervert it's original meaning and value.  This is
a typical, and perhaps inevitable result of our Western need to colonize
and conquer all that we encounter.  In many ways, we can't help it.
Ugly or not, it's who we are.  Perhaps we would be happier if we tried
harder to be content with who we are ... fully Western.  Perhaps we should
be looking within ourselves for answers, rather than looking outward to
another culture.  But, then again, we're Westerners, and looking outward
is what we do best.  That's what we are ...

Paradoxically,

-laelth