Dr. Philippe Turenne - Is the View Obsolete?
The arguments and positions that some Secular Buddhists bring forward about Buddhism deserve to be taken seriously. Some elements of their critique of Buddhist tradition, although perhaps not altogether new, point to some serious shortcomings and risks that come out of refusing to engage
with modernity, and they convey valuable advice on how to allow Buddhist intellectual practice to retain its vitality. Representatives of “religious,” “traditional,” or “classical” Buddhist traditions have failed to appreciate the validity of some of their criticism, but they would benefit by looking at this criticism honestly and recognizing its value. It would be a mistake for Buddhists to think that they can simply dismiss their views as being wrong or superficial without showing exactly how that is the case.
Buddhists, as followers of other religions, are unfortunately not immune from believing so much in the superiority of their view that they do not feel the need to engage with criticism they perceive to come from outside their religion or tradition. Buddhists need to recognize that people who do not identify as followers of their religion—or at least the institutions that represent Buddhists—do have a say in and an effect on how Buddhism is understood in the world.
Philippe was born in Canada, and has studied Buddhism in both traditional and academic contexts. Since 1996 he has studied primarily with Khenchen Palden Sherab and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Philippe’s academic studies have mostly been at McGill University and the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, India. Philippe joined RYI in 2011 where he currently teaches in the MA program. The Talk was entitled "Is the View Obsolete? A Discussion of Secular Buddhist Opinions on Buddhist View and Practice". He spoke to students and participants on 25th Sept. 2023.