Transcendent

More about the book

Acclaimed cultural critic Curtis White examines the fractures in Western Buddhism, particularly critiquing the rise of scientific and corporate dharma as seen in Stephen Batchelor's Secular Buddhist movement. He questions the future of Buddhism: should it align with corporate and neuroscientific models, or should it remain a refuge from the materialistic world? White emphasizes that transcendence is not about mystical realms but about reclaiming our humanity within the magic of the world itself, as articulated by Shunryu Suzuki. He critiques a culture fixated on capitalist and scientific "things," which dismisses the notion of a reality beyond materialism. Science ideologues, including the New Atheists, assert we live in a secular age where philosophy is obsolete, art is trivial, and transcendence is unnecessary because science offers all the wonder we need. White advocates for the re-enchantment of Buddhism and Western art traditions, invoking the spirit of the English Romantics, Beat poets, and counterculture figures. His work serves as a response to the challenges of our time, including climate crisis, disease, and social upheaval, urging a return to a living world filled with meaning and depth.