Varn Vlog Buddha Didn't Want You to Quit Thinking with W. Tom Pepper
Aug 18, 2025
Tom Pepper, author of 'The Faithful Buddhist' and 'Indispensable Goods', critiques Western Buddhism’s ties to capitalist structures and romantic ideology. He argues that emotional pursuits in Buddhism can mask disconnection from societal issues. Expounding on how contemporary interpretations often dilute core teachings, Pepper explores the commercialization of Buddhist practices. He emphasizes the need for political engagement in Buddhism to genuinely address suffering, challenging listeners to rethink emotional responses in the context of societal change.
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Romanticism Shapes Western Buddhism
- Western Buddhism often imports Romantic ideology, privileging deep feeling over critical thought.
- That romantic turn functions as compensation for alienation under capitalism rather than a genuine escape.
Romanticism As Capitalist Compensation
- Romanticism supplies emotional compensation for the monotony and alienation of early capitalism.
- It also promotes self-discipline and endless self-development that mirror capitalist progress narratives.
Historical Filters Distort Buddhism
- Early Western encounters read Buddhism through thinkers like Schopenhauer and European philosophers.
- That historic filter made Buddhism appear as if it confirmed contemporary philosophical trends rather than as an alien worldview.
