Buddhism in the United States

¶ … Buddhism in the United States [...] how the practice of Buddhism is expressed in the United States. Several different Buddhist traditions have grown and spread in the United States, both from immigration and through growing interest in the principles of the Buddhist religion. Buddhism is practiced differently in many ways in the United States, but essentially, the sacred and ancient teachings are still in place today.

Many different forms of the Buddhist religion thrive in America, from Zen to Theravada. A Buddhist expert notes, "There are many forms of American Buddhism and many different Buddhist rituals, most of which have their origins in Asia but are being transplanted and adapted to the United States" (Seager, 1999, p. 4). As these rituals become Americanized, they help influence and affect the American lifestyle, and they influence the Buddhist tradition, as well. There is growing speculation that Buddhism, especially practiced by American converts, known as "Elite Buddhists" in many circles, will have a growing influence on American society because of their own power and influence in society (McCormick, 2002).

First, it is important to define who is a Buddhist in America today. Practicing Buddhists come from every lifestyle and ethnic background. Author Seager continues, "Buddhists come from a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds, and there are white collar Buddhists; Buddhist cab drivers, mechanics, and chefs; and Buddhist artists and musicians" (Seager, 1999, p. 9). However, these American Buddhists can be broken down into three large, main groups. There are Americans who for one reason or another have turned to Buddhism as their chosen religion. There are refugee and immigrant Buddhists from Asia who have moved to America but kept their religious traditions. Finally, there are the Asian Buddhists who moved to this country many generations ago and continue to practice their Buddhist traditions, as well. These are the three core groups, and they have a great influence on society and culture in a variety of ways, from exercise to enlightenment and meditation.

There has been an increased interest in Buddhist philosophy and teachings in modern-day America, and this has influenced everything from music to literature. Expert Seager continues, "Buddhist images and ideas are finding expression in a wide range of fine and popular arts today, but Buddhism, particularly Zen, has had a substantial impact on American literature, particularly poetry, for several generations" (Seager, 1999, p. 35). Just about everyone recognizes the benign and peaceful face of Buddha himself in American society, indicating how prevalent understanding of this religion and its symbols has become in American culture. Zen has also inspired a greater understanding of meditation and transformational techniques, and inspired many of the self-help movements of the 1960s and 70s, such as EST and more recently the Landmark Forum.

Buddhism had existed in America since the mid-1850s, but it really began to expand in the 1960s. Another writer notes, "The youth counterculture was actively seeking alternatives to what they saw as a hypocritical and repressive Judeo-Christian heritage and the conformist and materialistic consumer society. Asian spiritualities like Hinduism and Buddhism seemed to promise a fresh and more authentic alternative" (McCormick 2002). Because of this interest, knowledge about Buddhist practices, such as meditation and yoga, began to spread, and even people who do not consider themselves Buddhist practice these techniques today.

Meditation is probably one of the most profound ways that Buddhist practices have entered American society. Meditation usually concentrates on stillness and quiet, deep breathing, and relaxation. Many people use these techniques to unwind from the stresses of everyday life, whether they are practicing Buddhists or not, and this has come directly from Buddhist teachings. Author Seager notes, "Sitting meditation is a central ritual in many Buddhist traditions and is of particular importance among converts in the United States" (Seager, 1999, p. 7). Meditation also became extremely popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as a way for the youth of the time to cope with the problems of the time and gain a mystical awareness of the world around them. Meditation centers became popular during this time, and so did extensive study into eastern religions, such as Buddhism.

There is another aspect of Buddhism that has had a remarkable effect on American society in just about every area, and that is yoga. While all Buddhists do not practice yoga (or meditation, for that matter), a large part of them do. Yoga has spread from being a relatively unknown practice to one of the most popular types of no-stress exercise in the country today. Millions of people attend yoga classes each week across the country, and it is touted as an excellent source of exercise for mind and body.

Buddhists are often thought to be non-materially oriented and interested more in spiritual enlightenment, but that is another area where the religion has altered in America. Author McCormick continues, "Instead, one's external, material circumstances are viewed as an effect of one's inner, spiritual condition. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that when asked about the goals and benefits of chanting, conspicuous benefits, such as acquiring a new home, a car, success in one's career, or good health, are mentioned frequently" (McCormick, 2002). Thus, Buddhists have helped impact American society, but American society has helped impact the beliefs and teachings of Buddhism, as well. That may be a reason that there is still so much interest in Buddhism, because the religion has been able to alter and modernize with the times to make it more relevant in modern, twenty-first century America.

There are other areas where Buddhist beliefs and teachings have had to alter to conform to American society. When Buddhism began to gain popularity in the country, many Buddhist monks immigrated to the U.S. To teach at Buddhist centers and temples, and some immigrated as a result of the Vietnam War and other reasons. When they reached this country, many of their teachings and rituals were no longer relevant. Author Seager notes of just one problem, "While cotton robes were suited to south Asia, he argued that their continued use during Midwestern winters put monks at serious risk" (Seager, 1999, p. 140). Eventually, the strict rules about dress and deportment were altered for American monks, and they have continued to change as society changes and grows.