Why are most western Buddhists white?
Why are most western Buddhists white?
And why do white people co-opt irrelevant asian cultural elements in Buddhist communities?
Just keep breathing in and out like this. Don't be interested in anything else. It doesn't matter even if someone is standing on their head with their ass in the air. Don't pay it any attention. Just stay with the in-breath and the out-breath. Concentrate your awareness on the breath. Just keep doing it. http://www.ajahnchah.org/book/Just_Do_It_1_2.php
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
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.
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.
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
What are the irrelevant asian cultural elements?convivium wrote:irrelevant asian cultural elements
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
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.convivium wrote:And why do white people co-opt irrelevant asian cultural elements in Buddhist communities?
By the way, thanks for the video, David. I nearly spilled my drink laughing!
quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur
(Anything in Latin sounds profound.)
(Anything in Latin sounds profound.)
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
David N. Snyder,David N. Snyder wrote:What are the irrelevant asian cultural elements?convivium wrote:irrelevant asian cultural elements
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
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
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.
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?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!"
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
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.
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
I agree. The vast majority of western Buddhists, are, in fact, Asian.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.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
A better question is what makes them relevant.David N. Snyder wrote:How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?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!"
chownah
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
My guess would be "The Buddha's instructions". Now, plschownah wrote:A better question is what makes them relevant.David N. Snyder wrote:How is noble silence and mindfully eating "irrelevant" [to Buddhist practice] ?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!"
chownah
- Goofaholix
- Posts: 4030
- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:49 am
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
This is true.Ben wrote:I agree. The vast majority of western Buddhists, are, in fact, Asian.
Perhaps a better question would be "Why are most western Buddhist meditators white?"
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
Yes, the Buddha's instruction (and this is on-topic, see the OP).pilgrim wrote: My guess would be "The Buddha's instructions". Now, pls
See: http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=379
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
OK, why do western sangha call their white teachers by the Thai word Ajahn? Why not use the original Pali Acariya?
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17232
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: Why are most western Buddhists white?
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.pilgrim wrote:OK, why do western sangha call their white teachers by the Thai word Ajahn? Why not use the original Pali Acariya?