In an interview with WERNER HERZOG, he said that the Dalai Lama spoke out against westerners becoming.........

Question

buddhist.He says you should not leave the religion of your traditional culture. Is this true, and if so why?

Answer 1

He's respectful of other religions.

Answer 2

The logic behind Buddhism is difficult for some to understand, and it's far better to stick to what you can understand and derive benefit from it, learning wisdom, altruism and compassion instead of getting into Buddhism and perhaps maybe not understanding the philosophy correctly and getting no result or a really bad one. It's what suits you... but if you feel drawn to Buddhism, by all means you should do it.

His Holiness is trying to prevent people from getting confused and frustrated, via incorrect understanding, or the Buddha Dharma getting into the hands of those who would distort it and cause harm for others. That's all. Again, if you feel drawn to it, there are lots of good Westernized and Western teachers who break the Dharma down in ways for people raised with "traditional" Western philosophical backgrounds to learn and understand.

My advice to those who wish to study and learn it, read Alexander Berzin's book "Relating to a Spiritual Teacher" (also available at the Berzin Archive for download, for free I think) and select a teacher VERY carefully. Take your time, make sure they're ethical and actually teaching the REAL Dharma. There are teachers out there now teaching hokie New Age versions that are being questioned by the more learned scholars of Buddhist thought.

_()_

Answer 3

I think constantly undoing culture and tradition is against progress

I for one am all for undoing my social upbringing of extreme christian cult and the harm done

but I think if it was liberal or free choice based on love of others and self, I would have still been there

however, it is not