What Does Eastern Religions Mean For Americans?

In this paper it will discuss the influence of the Buddha and how Buddhism came to America and the impact it had upon its arrival. How the American culture westernized Buddhism in their own way and how it looks today. It will also cover the difference of ethnic Buddhism and convert Buddhism in America. More specifically the objective of this paper is to explain descriptively and analytically and go over the historical time line of

Buddhism is a major Asian religion studied and practiced in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Although Buddhism is a growing religion throughout the world, in particular, the practice of meditation is spreading in the West. The United States has a center for Buddhists in Hawaii and New York and also a Buddhist community has been established in California. (Hewitt, 13-14) But even closer to home for most is the practicing of Zen Buddhism on the basketball court by former Chicago Bulls and present Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. In this essay I will discuss how Jackson has incorporated some of the practices of Zen Buddhism into his and the players of his teams lives and how it has been effective for the

Buddhism is a religion that focuses more on the individual and the actions of that individual, which was prevalent to me when I made my way into Portland and set foot in a Buddhist temple. The man I met within the walls of this temple was far from my stereotypical thoughts of Buddhist monks. The man I met looked like your plain old, average Joe, American man. Before I delve into the depths of my visit to this inspiring place, I need to sum up the Buddhist religion and why I chose to study this particular group of people.

In Rabbi Diamond’s Interreligious Experience and Engagement class, I have learned how to show respect and appreciation for all beliefs and religions across the world. In just Los Angeles alone, there countless religions practiced. It is important to educate oneself about other religions to understand the world around us, while also strengthening our own faiths. Most of the semester, we have focused on the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths and how to show interfaith relations between the two. On October 10 at 9:30 AM, for my interfaith field experience, I took the time to visit Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, a Buddhist Temple in Culver City, California at “12371 Braddock Dr., Culver City, California 90230”. I thought it would be interesting to visit a place of worship much different from what we have studied in class thus far.

Buddhism is a major Asian religion studied and practiced in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Although Buddhism is a growing religion throughout the world, in particular, the practice of meditation is spreading in the West. The United States has a center for Buddhists in Hawaii and New York and also a Buddhist community has been established in California. (Hewitt, 13-14) But even closer to home for most is the practicing of Zen Buddhism on the basketball court by former Chicago Bulls and present Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. In this essay I will discuss how Jackson has incorporated some of the practices of Zen Buddhism into his and the players of his teams lives and how it has been effective for

“There is a set of associations with familiar American values, such as simplicity, naturalness, peace, and harmony. There are the favorite values of the health and food industries, such as wholesomeness, well-being, and natural goodness; and there are the aesthetic values of the young urban sushi culture, such as tasteful understatement, sophisticated minimalism, and multicultural cosmopolitanism.” (Religion & Ethics Newsweekly). Doing the research on Buddhism has helped me understand it a lot better. I have learned about it in high school just a bit but never really knew the full extent. I never really knew they went through so much until now. I didn’t realize how much it is in the “American Culture” until now. We use the words, theories, and some of the practices such as meditation for our own reasons. We may not follow the Buddhism religion but we do use it and it has made its way into our culture. Growing up my mom had a little green Buddha that was always on her dresser. She would always rub his belly because it was good luck.

With great awareness, Alan W. Watts has inspired innumerable of individuals to learn more about eastern philosophies

” Another reason that Buddhism became so popular not only in Japan but in most of East Asia is because it did not make the people choose but instead presented itself as a supplement and way to add more to the religion that they already practiced. Zen also furthered the relationship between Japanese citizens and China’s. Zen began in Northern China and eventually traveled to Japan, where they won considerable influence in Kamakura. “In spite of its natural resonances with the requirements of the Japanese warrior-leadership, it is unlikely that Sung Zen would have taken roots as strongly in Japan as it did had it not been for an unstable political situation in China which sent to Japan experienced Ch’an monks who would otherwise have lived out their lives in Chinese monasteries.

No other figure in history has played a bigger part in opening the West to Buddhism than the eminent Zen author, D.T. Suzuki. One of the world's leading authorities on Zen Buddhism, Suzuki authored more than a hundred popular and scholarly works on the subject. A brilliant and intuitive scholar, Dr. Suzuki communicated his insights in a lucid and energetic fashion.

The Mystical Spirits of the East explore the practices and beliefs of some the oldest disciplines in the world. Hinduism, Buddhism are examined in colorful instances where nature and humans juxtapose each to draw a major point into the eyes of the viewers, the close dependence humans have with nature. Further, important yet obscure topics like death, suffering and disparity which are often trivialized in eastern culture are embraced and dealt with in eastern beliefs. In the film, the impact religion has on society is a point of concern just like the influence society and the changing world have on religion and beliefs.

Although the diffusion of cultures have allowed for belief systems to evolve and grow in influence, important aspects of those religions get lost in translation and misinterpreted. Buddhism is one of many religions that is often misunderstood and watered down in contemporary American culture. There exists a stereotypical idea of Buddhists: mostly males wearing orange robes, baldheads, and fasting for many days while meditating. Because it is not that prevalent in the western world, many are unfamiliar with the multitude of philosophies Buddhism teaches. Though the transmission of Buddhist ideas might not seem apparent, contemporary artists make work that seamlessly incorporates this religion’s teachings and beliefs.

Of all the eastern religions we’ve studied, Hinduism was the one that stuck with me the most. As the third largest religion in the world there is a sizeable population residing in the States, many of whom are converts. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one such convert, and his Baptist wife, Dana Trent. The couple visited my church, invited to speak on their interfaith relationship and how they made it work. Fred Eaker, a western convert who spent five years in a Hindu monastery, gave a fascinating speech on how he balances practicing his faith with his marriage. Some practices he can never fully experience, as a convert and as a westerner, one of which is the festival of lights, Diwali. A five-day celebration typically compared

Buddhism has an impact on everything from self-care to respect for any living creature. There have been countless tests and studies done by scientists to see if the techniques and methods that Buddhist monks use, such as meditation, will actually change the inner process of the brain. Due to the popularity of Buddhism, any partakes in the religion, for instance, everyday people like college students. In addition, with Buddhism becoming westernized it has been accommodated for the American tradition and lifestyle. This can be seen with the previously mentioned contributions Buddhists have brought to popular media and culture. Currently, Buddhism will prevail as the American truth and actuality, instead of being referred to as only

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.

Around 2 billion people in the world practice the Christian faith, while more than 300 million people practice Buddhism worldwide (Maoz and Henderson 14) . Much of the world’s population has a faith that others can not begin to understand but it is crucial to comprehend why people carry themselves the way they do. Christianity is the leading religion in the world and buddhism is rapidly growing. Both have very strong similarities and differences that will allow everyone to better apprehend the world. Although history, people, and core beliefs of Buddhism and Christianity are polar opposites in most aspects, both share a multitude of similarities that influence the way people make decisions today.