On the other hand, this article in the New Republic is an important one, especially considering the lack of understanding of the cultural differences between East and West regarding religion. Ministers and monks are not interchangable terms. The Catholic church is unique in having a central authority figure to respond to abuses. Even with this central authority, Catholics have had to contend with abuses. Buddhism is no different, especially with so many different schools, and some monks far more political than spiritual.
Russ of My Brain Hurts is absolutely right that no religion is immune from abuse or hypocrites - unlike Russ, I don't fault the religion for the bad actions of people. A favorite ploy of the wolves is to use the name of religion to justify their actions and manipulate others. Sadly, the sheep of the world won't see past the trappings of religious rhetoric. I was raised around people who believed blindly, not just in the words of their religions holy book, but anything a "man of God" said. They are equal partners in that though, since their reward is having their prejudices and political views justified as properly "religious".
Personally, I agree with Martin Luther King that followers of the true words of Jesus - not the rhetoric preached in most pulpits - would be and are considered radical and dangerous. Non-violence is very threatening to many people. The words of the Buddha are like that to me, too - the concept that no means justify any ends no matter how noble sounding. What have we but now? When do "the ends" happen?
I've recently become interested in some of the Tantric practices of Buddhism, but I think I'm really going to need to look closely at why I'm interested - would those rituals and practices help me cut through illusion, or become an illusion of distraction so I won't have to deal with my inner issues? Being rule oriented, methodical, and precise, I'm very good at being "religious". Being intellectual, it's easy for me to understand spiritual and religious concepts. Both of those things are huge hurdles to actually seeing.
For me, it's important to work on those inner issues to come to an actual experience of the concepts my brain figures out and wants to own. I think this is why having different practices and even religions is so important - to give each of us tools and methods - as individuals with our own specific proclivities, talents, and needs.
The Dalai Lama said it best:
"I always believe that it is much better to have a variety of religions, a variety of philosophies, rather than one single religion or philosophy. This is necessary because of the different mental dispositions of each human being. Each religion has certain unique ideas or techniques, and learning about them can only enrich one's own faith."
