Observed from the standpoint within Western Culture, it can be a challenge to fully step out of the context of it to gain an outside perspective. Nevertheless, it appears as a necessary aspect to question what is culture and what is not, to therefore get a clearer understanding of what we are as humans. Western Culture can arguably be considered one of the most influential cultures to the rest of the world, and is embedded deeply in the globalization movement of the world. It is not a surprise to find an English book or a McDonald 's in Thailand, Nigeria, or Israel. Western Culture has spread its roots to nearly all corners of the world, bringing with it the ideals of the industrial revolution, capitalism, along with many other notions. …show more content…
The Buddhist community also shares many beliefs including the Four Nobel Truths, the Eight Fold Path, the Law of Karma, and the Middle Way. American Buddhist is a constantly growing community that encompasses people from many paths. It is stated, "[f]or rough comparative purposes, it is probably safe to say that the number of Buddhists in America constitutes somewhere between 0.5percent and 1.5 percent of the total population" (Gregory 237). This minute demographic is largely influenced by Thailand, which is where the temple I attend, Wat Florida Dhammaram, is founded by. This is not the only culture that affects the American Buddhist community; it is truly a cocktail of different influences, including Western Culture. Rightfully, it is expressed, “[w]hat often gets overlooked in discussions of American Buddhism is that it is developing within a larger global context..."(Gregory 249). Buddhism is evolving in many different countries, and recently has began to become integrated in Western countries through the globalization of the world and particularly through information available via electronics.
Frequently when attempting Wat Florida Dhammaram, I reflect on what living in a country like Thailand would be like. I often consider how the culture would be different in other places also like Colombia. These two countries can mistakenly be observed through eyes obscured by ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is accurately
In the article, “The Case for Contamination”, by Kwame Anthony Appiah, the author focused on globalization and its effects on the world. He stressed how new innovations and traditions, rooted from modernization, are essentially contaminating age-old customs and values. Appiah used examples from his personal experiences to illustrate the shift from traditional customs to modern practices within cultures. Although the author explained how globalization adversely affects traditional values and cultures, he also stressed the importance of free will and that ultimately, the people choose which course of action globalization will take on humanity. Though that may be true, the fact still remains that the world is being contaminated with new, modern innovations and values, and globalization is negatively affecting society.
As a college student that has lived and grown up in western New York, I do not have too much experience with the other religions of the world. I have grown up a Christian Protestant my whole life, and I am a firm believer in my religion. Soon after reading the chapter on Buddhism in Huston Smith’s book The World’s Religions, I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I came to learn who the Buddha as a man really was, and the steps he took in becoming a religious icon. I know understand that Buddhism is not all meditation and relaxing. There is a strict code of the four noble truths and the prescription of getting through them called the eightfold path. Much like Christianity Buddhism also has many different views
“Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are, it solely relies on what you think”, The Buddha. Buddhism is a message of deep enlightenment for the spiritual mind set of breaking the chain of reincarnation to achieve nirvana. Buddhism was founded by a man named Siddhartha Gautama who lived five hundred years ago. He spawned a spiritual enlightenment for the mind which we call Buddhism and eventually it came to the United States. Buddha, spreading his teachings of the four noble truths throughout Asia and many parts of the world that would someday enlighten the minds of the American culture and help lead people to a higher state of enlightenment. Over many hundreds of years Buddhism has transformed into many sects throughout history and is becoming one of the many fastest growing religion in America. (Pew, 31-33).
Since the inception of human civilization there have been countless cultures and societies which have helped shape the current world today as we know it. The modern human race dates back more than 200,000 years and in that time frame many cultures have risen to great virtue and success only to deteriorate or cease to exist altogether. First before examining one of these cultures we must know what culture truly means. The Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Culture Center defines culture as a “dynamic social system,” containing the beliefs, behaviors, values and norms of a “specific organization, group, society or other collectivity” learned, shared, internalized, and changeable by all members of the society (Watson, 2010). In
Culture is one of the most relevant elements that can define not only a society but also a country’s cumulative beliefs and system. Often noted as the origins of a country, culture is definitive in the sense that it harbors all the elements that can provide justification on the traditions and norms set by the society for its members. More often than not, the society members follow norms in order to create a harmonious community, and the beliefs and the traditions serve as the poles or grounding rules for each member to follow. Culture is very dynamic in the way that it can change over a variety of foreign influences but what is permanent about it is that original elements about it often lingers with the influences, therefore making it multi-faceted and broad. More importantly, culture serves as an individual and unique trait each society has, and therefore sets it apart from other countries and other societies.
Define culture: Culture refers to beliefs, values and norms of a group of people from a particular ethnic or cultural background. Even though each culture has their unique characters, but there are elements common to all human cultures. By definition, this is what we call “cultural universal”. For instance, fear of supernaturals, food, clothing, money, education etc. There are ethnocentric people, who believe that their culture or ethnic group is superior to all others. The Nazi Germany back in 1931 wanted to transmit the idea that the German race were of a superior race than all races around the globe. More often than not this kind of cultural globalization can create conflict and tension among nations.
There are many influences that given rise to contemporary Buddhist schools and forms of Buddhist practices in the US. Before delving into the influences that gave rise to the contemporary practice, it is important to first acknowledge how Buddhism came to America. Buddhism came over from Asia through books, through travels to Asian countries and through Asian immigrants. Many convert Buddhist first learned about the Buddha through books. Others travel to Asia to learn more about Buddhism or seek out teachers within America. These coverts would then create their own forms of the dharma that would be suited to those who are more adapted to the mainstream culture within America. Immigrant Buddhist have also created their own
Buddhism came to the West towards the end of the 19th century. Three major groups of Buddhist practitioners can be identified within American Buddhism. The first group consists of the native-born Americans who have adopted Buddhist teachings over the years. They include Asian, African, and Native American. Another group can be identified as the Buddhist refugees and immigrants who came to the United States and are working to adapt their traditions and practices to the American country. The third group consists of Asian Americans, especially from China or Japan, who have been Buddhist practitioners for several generations. Each group has a particular way of practicing Buddhism, and engages in different efforts to adapt and adopt Buddhism. When
Globalization is far reaching in this day and age. Globalization is the worldwide flow of goods, services, money, people, information, and culture. It leads to a greater interdependence and mutual awareness among the people of the world (Tischler, 2011, 2007, p. 430). One non-Western culture that has been impacted by globalization is China. An example of the impact of globalization on China is their economy. Since joining the World Trade Organization, China has transformed from a culture that relied on economic self-sufficiency and shunned the thought of globalization to an economy that is progressively more open to trade and foreign investment.
In today 's society, culture is impacting our everyday life, experience and social relations; we are all categorized by our cultural “groups”, but this has changed rapidly throughout the years from one generation to the next. Cultural studies were developed in the late 1950’s, through the 1970’s by the British academic scholars. The British scholars were able engaged cultural analysis and the developed then transformed of the different fields, for example, politically, theoretically and empirically that are now represented around the world.
Some argue that globalization will, on the long term, bring all cultures as a unique Western, if not Americanized, culture, while others argue that some cultures will persist in order to keep their own essence and therefore avoid the homogenization of all cultures. Alongside pure tradition, global conflicts, contradictory political regimes and the diversity of economic systems, some cultures are bound to face issues when trying to fully fit in a global western culture, and that is why cultures are adaptable to one another, but with some limits that we will express in this essay.
Western Civilization has had a tremendous influence on many different cultures worldwide. From the Hispanic cultures in South and Central America, to the Caribbean islands, and also to the various exotic African countries, and even to the distinguished cultures that reside in the continent of Asia. In many ways than one, these cultures have been molded to be as westernized as they could possibly be without losing their traditional customs indefinitely. They’re religion, fashion sense, and family structures have all been altered in some form so that it could resemble the western nation’s patriarch. Countries in North America and Europe have for centuries traveled to different continents in the world and colonized many nations, as a result of that, many of the customs and traditions of those people have been shaped to be a bit more westernized.
In the universe there 's a galaxy, and in this galaxy there 's the solar system, and in this solar system there is a planet earth, and in this planet earth lives 7 billion people. We are all the same but divided by key things; oceans and mountains, culture and society, but most important religions and beliefs. Out of the hundreds of practices and beliefs that make part of planet earth one of the most interesting form of religious practice is Buddhism.
At this point of time, globalization has grown to be a phenomenon that is significantly important economically, politically, and culturally. The amalgamation and incorporation of the world economy around the globe has reshaped business. Not only this, it has created "new social classes, different jobs, unimaginable wealth, and, occasionally, wretched poverty" (Kiggundu 2002, p. 4) by restructuring the lives of the individuals. For some, globalization is associated to modernism and contemporary practices. Others understand it as American domination (particularly those living in Asia). On the other hand, some people believe it to be the emasculation of America (Kiggundu 2002, p. 4).
Globalization simply defined is the intensification of global interactions. The case studies we have studied depict two of the main types of globalization. Economic Globalization, which is the production, exchange, distribution, and consumption of goods and tangible services, and Cultural Globalization, the exchange of materials and symbols that represent facts, meaning values and beliefs. When Globalization occurs it usually has a major impact on indigenous cultures. Optimists or “champions” state that the relationship between culture and globalization has positive effects as it creates a balance between nations. Conversely, critics state that relationships between the two have negative effects, leading to the loss or deterioration of a