posted on September 16, 2006 11:46:15 PM newThe Dalai Lama's visit spotlights the fact that, with 1.5 million adherents, Buddhism is America's fourth-largest religion.
By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – That genial face has become familiar across the globe - almost as recognizable when it comes to religious leaders, perhaps, as Pope John Paul II. When in America, the Dalai Lama is a sought-after speaker, sharing his compassionate message and engaging aura well beyond the Buddhist community.
After inaugurating a new Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in Vancouver, B.C., the Tibetan leader this week begins a visit to several US cities for public talks, sessions with young peacemakers, scientists, university faculty, corporate executives, and a California women's conference. But he'll also sit down for teach-ins among the burgeoning American faithful.
Buddhism is growing apace in the United States, and an identifiably American Buddhism is emerging. Teaching centers and sanghas (communities of people who practice together) are spreading here as American-born leaders reframe ancient principles in contemporary Western terms.
Though the religion born in India has been in the US since the 19th century, the number of adherents rose by 170 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the American Religious Identity Survey. An ARIS estimate puts the total in 2004 at 1.5 million, while others have estimated twice that. "The 1.5 million is a low reasonable number," says Richard Seager, author of "Buddhism in America."
That makes Buddhism the country's fourth-largest religion, after Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Immigrants from Asia probably account for two-thirds of the total, and converts about one-third, says Dr. Seager, a professor of religious studies at Hamilton College, in Clinton, N.Y.
What is drawing people (after that fascination with Zen Buddhism in the '50s and '60s)? The Dalai Lama himself has played a role, some say, and Buddhism's nonmissionizing approach fits well with Americans' search for meaningful spiritual paths.
"People feel that Buddhist figures like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh of Vietnam are contributing something, not trying to convert people," says Lama Surya Das, a highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition. "They are not building big temples, but offering wisdom and ways of reconciliation and peacemaking, which are so much needed."
Even a larger factor, he suggests, is that Buddhism offers spiritual practices that Western religions haven't emphasized.
"People are looking for experiential practices, not just a new belief system or a new set of ethical rules which we already have, and are much the same in all religions," Surya Das says. "It's the transformative practices like meditation which people are really attracted to."
posted on September 17, 2006 06:41:42 AM new
so are any of these dudes going to set themselves on fire? I remember seeing them do that during the Vietnam era-I thought that was so cool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on September 17, 2006 09:03:52 AM new
That was strange, Classic but when they set themselves on fire I don't think they killed anyone else. Not like suicide bombers or power happy leaders who go to war after praying to their God and then actually believe that their God is on their side when so many innocent people are killed or maimed because of it.
posted on September 17, 2006 10:23:03 AM new
I guess like Classic lots of NEO-CONS think its "COOL" to see people burn. Iraq give these sickos lots of burnt bodies daily.
What is really "cool" and good for America is how so many Republican NEO-CON "Christian" lawmakers are going to jail for money crimes. Classic supports this type of pig that call themselves "Christians".
Hell, for what its worth I am betting that even Classic calls himself a Christian. LOL
THEY PRAISE GOD AND WAVE THE BIBLE LOUDLY,WHILE PASSING THE BRIBE MONEY QUIETLY UNDER THE TABLE.
So many Republicans lawmakers are in jail or jail bound. I am surprised the republican controlled Congress hasn't introduced a bill to build a new Federal detention farm for their fallen comrades. A new farm with all the amenities these so called "Christians" are used to. A new farm with catered meals,golf course,swimming pool you get the idea.
I hope American Buddhism thrives here in America. I see nothing wrong with it. This is still America and we are still (for now) all free to worship as we please.
posted on September 17, 2006 10:56:11 AM new
"I guess like Classic lots of NEO-CONS think its "COOL" to see people burn"
yes especially if it was you.
"Hell, for what its worth I am betting that even Classic calls himself a Christian. LOL"
Im not even religious you lame brained assh*le.
I have stated this more then once.Just because Im a Republican doesnt mean Im relgious you nitwit.Brain dead people like you think all Republicans are religious and democrats are not-thats how stupid you are.
BIG-
YOU
ARE
WITHOUT
A
DOUBT
THE
DUMBEST
BASTARD
THAT
EVER
POSTED
ON
THIS
BOARD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
[ edited by classicrock000 on Sep 17, 2006 10:58 AM ]
posted on September 17, 2006 07:49:24 PM new
I said, Hell for what its worth, I am betting that even Classic calls himself a Christian. LOL
classic, I somehow knew your not a religious man that is why I said the above with a LOL.
I really do believe your just another very confused and beaten republican loser that is FLIP FLOPPING LIKE FISH OUT OF WATER.
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT YOU BACKED. THE QUOIT CON-SERVATIVES ARE COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED WITH JUST 50 DAYS TO GO BEFORE ELECTIONS. THE CON-SERVATIVE LAWMAKERS THAT ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION WHAT A SORRY MESS THEY ARE. THEY ARE TRYING TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR OWN PRESIDENT AND THE RUNNING RAMPED CORRUPTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
A lot of lawmakers you support along with their religious faith based con-servative (law an order) party do call themselves "Christians". You know the many CON-SERVAITVE REPUBLICANS I am talking about, the PRAISE THE LORD AND EXCEPT THE ILLEGAL MONEY GUYS OR THE PRAISE THE LORD GANG THAT TELLS BOLD FACED LIES THAT GET THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS KILLED.
Heck even Dumbo Bush says he has Gods ear. I personally think Bush has arrested development from his alcohol and coke days. Bushy most likely thought he saw God one day when he was Coked up and on a binge he never forgot that out of body experience.
I believe no man or political party that has put so many people into POVERTY AND TO DEATH the way Bush and the con-servative republicans have done should be able to call themselves religious.
posted on September 18, 2006 05:21:07 AM new
"JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT YOU BACKED. THE QUOIT CON-SERVATIVES ARE COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED WITH JUST 50 DAYS TO GO BEFORE ELECTIONS. THE CON-SERVATIVE LAWMAKERS THAT ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION WHAT A SORRY MESS THEY ARE. THEY ARE TRYING TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR OWN PRESIDENT AND THE RUNNING RAMPED CORRUPTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY."
and what the f*ck does this have to do with Buddhism???
again you're such a lame assh*le you have to turn EVERY thread into knocking the adminstration. GET A LIFE
IM OUTTA HERE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on September 18, 2006 09:14:24 AM new
I remember my father bringing home a photograph of someone burning themselves in the name of religion.....
It made a horrible impression on me, I couldn't imagine someone doing that.
I was in junior high and helping Mom organize some photos when I saw it. I took it to school to show my "World Cultures" instructor and was asked not to share it and to "just take it home". At the time I was trying to understand....
posted on September 18, 2006 02:22:36 PM new
"photograph of someone burning themselves in the name of religion....."
They didn't burn themselves in the name of religion. They burned themselves in protest of an incredibly violent and destructive war. Buddhists are the ultimate nonviolent pacifists, and these guys were on the radical fringe of Buddhism. No serious Buddhist would kill anyone, much less themselves.
Oh, and classic's right; Peepa has simply gone insane with no one to pick on. He needs to join a board that will appreciate his style of posting. And no, I DON'T mean MINE!
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets
http://www.drarcane.com/smf/
The Arcane Assembly
[ edited by DrArcane on Sep 18, 2006 02:23 PM ]
[ edited by DrArcane on Sep 18, 2006 02:24 PM ]
posted on September 18, 2006 03:04:21 PM new
DrArcane
I am not letting NEO-CON LIARS that call themselves Christians get away with their BULL ROAR any longer. Sure there are some serious republicans that are truly religious but the ones I blast are the phonies. I blast the praise the Lord and pass the money guys along with the praise the Lord and bomb the Innocent guys.
The BULL ROAR that people like Classic spread who thinks its "COOL" to watch people burn I find disgusting.
I saw Buddhist Monks burn themselves during Viet Nam. Instead of thinking it was "cool" I better understood as a young man the HORRORS OF WAR.
Classic doesn't have to look far to see burnt human flesh. He just needs to watch events in Iraq. LOTS OF BURNT HUMAN FLESH THERE BECAUSE OF BUSH'S ILLEGAL INVASION.
posted on September 20, 2006 12:16:19 PM new
Kiara: Thanks for posting this. I'm not aware of any Buddhist group ever going to war. I like that in a religion!
