Breht O'Shea, a Buddhist practitioner and Marxist political educator known for his work on Revolutionary Left Radio, delves deep into the fascinating overlaps between Buddhism and Marxism. He explores how both traditions seek liberation from suffering and the shared dialectical frameworks that challenge capitalism's individualism. Breht emphasizes the importance of integrating inner and outer liberation, the role of compassion in revolutionary struggle, and the concept of the 'Bodhisattva Revolutionary' as a guide for achieving social justice in a post-capitalist world.
The podcast explores the philosophical connections between Buddhism and Marxism, highlighting their shared paths towards liberation from suffering and exploitation.
Both traditions challenge fixed concepts of existence through dialectical worldviews, encouraging a recognition of reality's fluidity and interdependence.
The Bodhisattva revolutionary concept merges compassion and activism, urging individuals to engage in both personal transformation and social justice initiatives.
Deep dives
Promotion of Accessibility and Support
The podcast emphasizes the commitment to keeping content free and accessible, highlighting the reliance on listener support for sustainability. Moreover, it encourages audience engagement through rating and reviews, which are crucial for growing its reach without a traditional marketing budget. The speakers express gratitude for listener contributions, which are essential for the continuation of their work. This grassroots approach underlines the podcast's dedication to fostering an inclusive community around its discussions.
Interconnectedness of Buddhism and Marxism
The conversation explores the philosophical overlap between Buddhism and Marxism, despite their seemingly different origins and purposes. Both traditions are presented as pathways to liberation; Buddhism focuses on internal liberation from self-imposed limitations, while Marxism seeks to liberate society from class exploitation. The discussion also highlights how each philosophy can enhance the understanding of the other, suggesting that a synthesis could lead to a more profound pursuit of justice and equity. This blending of ideas sets the stage for a deeper analysis of societal structures and personal development.
Dialectical Worldviews
Both Buddhism and Marxism are framed as dialectical worldviews that challenge static concepts of existence, urging followers to recognize the fluidity of reality. The principles of dependent origination in Buddhism and dialectical materialism in Marxism illustrate the interconnectedness of all phenomena. This emphasis on process over fixed entities promotes a holistic understanding of existence, emphasizing that all beings are products of a complex web of causes and conditions. By grasping these concepts, individuals can better understand their place in the world and the systems that shape their lives.
Liberation Goals of Buddhism and Marxism
The podcast discusses the importance of liberation as a core aim in both Buddhism, which seeks to free individuals from suffering and attachment, and Marxism, which aims to dismantle oppressive class structures. Buddhism promotes awareness and acceptance of life’s inherent challenges, guiding seekers to ease their internal suffering through compassion and mindfulness. In contrast, Marxism focuses on external societal change, advocating for an egalitarian world without extreme wealth disparities. This dual approach underscores the need for both personal and collective efforts in achieving true liberation.
The Bodhisattva Revolutionary
The concept of the Bodhisattva revolutionary emerges as a synthesis of Buddhist compassion and Marxist activism, encouraging individuals to pursue both inner transformation and social justice. This archetype embodies selflessness and a commitment to alleviating suffering while confronting systemic inequalities. By adopting this dual perspective, individuals can work towards dismantling oppressive structures while developing their spiritual practice. The dialogue concludes with a call for listeners to embody the Bodhisattva revolutionary ideal in their lives, fostering a collective movement toward a more just world.
When you think about the philosophies and practices of Buddhism and Marxism, you might not immediately think that they have much in common. However, you might be surprised at how much overlap and complementary resonance there actually is between these two rich and beautiful traditions.
In this conversation, we explore how both Buddhism & Marxism offer helpful pathways to liberation and provide a spot-on analysis of the root causes of suffering. We also explore some of the potential tensions between Buddhism and Marxism, as well as what each tradition can learn from the other. And we end with a powerful invitation to embark on the path of the Bodhisattva Revolutionary to both end the internal and structural causes and conditions of suffering and to bring forth the systemic changes necessary for the transition to a socialist and eventually communist economy based on liberation, equity, and justice for all.
This interview was inspired by an episode of Revolutionary Left Radio titled Dialectics & Liberation: Insights from Buddhism and Marxism where Breht read a speech he gave at Arizona State University on the topic of dialectical materialism, Buddhism, and Marxism. Definitely check that episode out when you’re done listening to this — it’s a great complement to this conversation.
Thank you to Carolyn Raider for this episode’s cover art and to Mount Eerie for the intermission music. Upstream theme music was composed by Robert Raymond/Lanterns.
This episode of Upstream was made possible with support from listeners like you. Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support
If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship
