Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

And why do white people co-opt irrelevant asian cultural elements in Buddhist communities?

In a word one of the biggest things preventing more African-Americans from joining Sanghas is: culture. Take a look at this African-American church service:



And compare that to the noble silence of sitting meditation, the very quiet and solemn practice we do in sitting meditation, walking meditation, retreats, even the way we eat our food!

However, socio-economic class also has a lot to do with it and as more African-Americans come out of poverty, there will be greater participation. I have met several African-American Buddhists, but admittedly most have been middle to upper-middle class.

convivium wrote:irrelevant asian cultural elements

What are the irrelevant asian cultural elements?

convivium wrote:And why do white people co-opt irrelevant asian cultural elements in Buddhist communities?

Be careful with this. Some practices we see as being nothing more than Asian cultural customs can turn out to be valid outward forms of practice.

By the way, thanks for the video, David. I nearly spilled my drink laughing!

David N. Snyder wrote:

convivium wrote:irrelevant asian cultural elements

What are the irrelevant asian cultural elements?

David N. Snyder,
Indeed you have already innumerated many of them, "the noble silence of sitting meditation, the very quiet and solemn practice we do in sitting meditation, walking meditation, retreats, even the way we eat our food!"
chownah

According to the article Is Western Buddhism White? most Western Buddhists are of Asian heritage.

Is Western Buddhism White? wrote: As I have made the point before, most Western Buddhists are of Asian heritage. We comprise the majority of Western Buddhism. If you’re talking about white Buddhists (and Lander writes about Americans in particular), then you certainly aren’t talking about most Western Buddhists.

chownah wrote: Indeed you have already innumerated many of them, "the noble silence of sitting meditation, the very quiet and solemn practice we do in sitting meditation, walking meditation, retreats, even the way we eat our food!"

How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?

culaavuso wrote:According to the article Is Western Buddhism White? most Western Buddhists are of Asian heritage.

Yes, exactly, which is one of the reasons I'm not a fan of the Western Buddhism term.

culaavuso wrote:According to the article Is Western Buddhism White? most Western Buddhists are of Asian heritage.

Is Western Buddhism White? wrote: As I have made the point before, most Western Buddhists are of Asian heritage. We comprise the majority of Western Buddhism. If you’re talking about white Buddhists (and Lander writes about Americans in particular), then you certainly aren’t talking about most Western Buddhists.

I agree. The vast majority of western Buddhists, are, in fact, Asian.

David N. Snyder wrote:

chownah wrote: Indeed you have already innumerated many of them, "the noble silence of sitting meditation, the very quiet and solemn practice we do in sitting meditation, walking meditation, retreats, even the way we eat our food!"

How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?

A better question is what makes them relevant.
chownah

chownah wrote:

David N. Snyder wrote:

chownah wrote: Indeed you have already innumerated many of them, "the noble silence of sitting meditation, the very quiet and solemn practice we do in sitting meditation, walking meditation, retreats, even the way we eat our food!"

How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?

A better question is what makes them relevant.
chownah

My guess would be "The Buddha's instructions". Now, pls

Ben wrote:I agree. The vast majority of western Buddhists, are, in fact, Asian.

This is true.

Perhaps a better question would be "Why are most western Buddhist meditators white?"

pilgrim wrote: My guess would be "The Buddha's instructions". Now, pls

Yes, the Buddha's instruction (and this is on-topic, see the OP).

See: http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=379

OK, why do western sangha call their white teachers by the Thai word Ajahn? Why not use the original Pali Acariya?

pilgrim wrote:OK, why do western sangha call their white teachers by the Thai word Ajahn? Why not use the original Pali Acariya?

Okay, that's probably fair enough. That could be considered an irrelevant Asian custom carried over if the participants are all non-Asian in the U.S. for example. They could be called 'teacher' or 'bhante' or 'acariya' but I imagine those monks were ordained in a Thai tradition and it is simply used out of respect for the tradition they hail from.