God and Buddha - A Dialogue
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DVD details
Actor: Deepak Chopra, Robert ThurmanDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-11-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Mystic Fire Video
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DVD Reviews of God and Buddha - A Dialogue
DVD Review: Robert Thurman screwed up big time
Summary: 3 Stars
I found it pretty odd that Thurman repeatedly stated and/or agreed that the only difference between Buddhism and Vedanta was "semantic."
Even Dzogchen, which was once considered "heretical" among Buddhists because it _seemed_ to be Vedanta is not the same thing as Vedanta. Now that we have many more Dzogchen texts freely available, this is more evident than ever. The differences are more than semantic. Furthermore, no Buddhist sect agrees with this.
However, you will see the reverse: Vedantists claim Buddha as one of their own, as an avatar of Vishnu. This effectively downplays the Buddha and everything he taught, when in fact his teaching was a direct response to Vedanta.
Vedantists don't really follow what the Buddha taught since they still hold Vedantic views on Karma (which are significantly different from Buddhist views on Karma) and Brahman and Atman, so for them to claim Buddha is really teaching the same thing as Vedanta is a claim that just doesn't hold up. Buddha came from India and, if he meant the same thing, surely he would have said so. He didn't just use different words to say the same thing, either; just explore the differences between Buddhist Karma and Vedantic Karma on Wikipedia for a quick proof.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said it is good to see the similarities in various philosophies and religious traditions, but it is equally important to note the differences. There are thousands of pages of texts out there detailing the specific yanas of Buddhist thought and Vedanta thought and why they are different.
In the beginning of the video, Deepak relates a story of when he met the Dalai Lama. He mentions how the Dalai Lama stopped him cold in the middle of his thoughts, as he was trying to relate his ideas about God and asked him, "If I believed what you say, what benefit is there?" Deepak says that experience showed him that regardless of the vast expanses of mental voyaging and enlightenment the Dalai Lama surely must experience that he is at heart a very practical man. Robert Thurman smiled and nodded as if to say, "Yep! That's my Dalai Lama alright!" but he seems to have missed the point. The Dalai Lama knows enough through personal experience that he does not believe in God or a soul, just as the Buddha did not believe in God or a soul. Yet, Thurman repeatedly agreed with Deepak that they're talking about the same thing. That's a pretty bad mistake and one that has lowered my opinion of his opinions considerably.
Anyone who wants to give my review the "thumbs down," please leave a comment stating which Buddhist sect believes Buddhism and Vedanta are the same and provide link to evidence. Thanks.
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