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Bhikkhu Buddhadasa's Demythologization of Buddhism

The article discuss life and activity of Thai Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Buddhadasa. It presents his views that criticized the traditional understanding of Theravada Buddhism. At the root of his perspective one can distinguish the crisis of Buddhist sangha, the development of modern science and his knowledge of books from other Buddhist and non-Buddhist traditions. Buddhadasa's demythologization of Buddhism means a rejection of rituals and ceremonies, refutation of studies of Buddha's written teachings, replacement of traditional scholastics with his own exegesis, rejection of hierarchy in sangha, and recognition of the equality of all religions. His approach in identifying religions, psychology and empirical science is superficial and cannot be defended.

Purpose. Showing the ethical nature of the meeting of anthropologist and journalist Krzysztof Renik with Buddhist monk Tashi, in an environment alien to both of them. Analysis of Renik's book to find out whether the borders between traveler, pilgrim and tourist are luminal and fluid in nature. Method. Critical analysis of literature. Results. Affirmation of the theory regarding the fluid nature of social categories, in this case that of the traveler, pilgrim and tourist. Both Renik and Tashi are pilgrims, but also travelers/ pilgrims who wander through unknown countries. Research and conclusions limitations. No possibility of contact with the monk, the main character of the book. Practical implications. The article can have meaning for persons who try to understand the religious and social landscape of Hindu countries, and want to broaden their perspective of the world taking the point of view of an anthropologist who practiced long-term observation of the behavior of a Buddhist monk into account. Originality. Renik's book is probably the first work relating the day-by-day common pilgrimage of the Ladakhian Buddhist monk and the Catholic anthropologist and journalist. The latter wanting to better understand Tashi's engagement, also participated in Buddhist practices. Being a traveler and anthropologist, he becomes a pilgrim, and pilgrim Tashi frequently behaves like a traveler or common tourist. Type of paper. Case study.

At the beginning of the XXI century, human societies are entering a period of "late modernity" characterized by new forms of trust and risk, untransparent social situations and economic, political and cultural globalization. These processes are associated with the presence of abstract systems that surround people and which require support of people with expertise in the fields which include transport, telecommunications, finance, security, media, energy. At the same time, it is noted that the expertise cult is born and specialists not only meet the identified needs, but also produce new, thus contributing to the development of a culture of narcissism. Article aims to explain the characteristics of expert systems and cultural narcissism, experts role as a participant in social change, model types and kinds of experts with their arcane in to ontological and epistemological structures of the social world. I also highlight the problems associated with the suppression of restrictions in to the access of expertise knowledge.