Traditional Practice of Buddism in Asia - Essay Example

?Buddhism as practiced by contemporary Americans, contrasting their practice with more traditional practices in Asia Buddhism, based upon the teachings of Siddhartha or Lord Buddha is interconnected with self realization, without the help of a mediator. To be specific, this unique characteristic of traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia was helpful to influence the world, especially America. From a different angle of view, Buddhism is less influential in India (say, birthplace of Buddhism), but deeply influenced the other nations in Southeast Asia. Besides, there exist a number of differences between Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans and the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia. Thesis statement: The contrast study proves that Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans and traditional practices of Buddhism in Asia are different due to the difference in the role of women in religious matters, difference between text-based and meditation-centered practice, difference between traditional and reinterpreted Buddhism, and cultural differences (special references to American and Asian Buddhist practices). Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans is a hybrid variety of Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Cambodian, Thai and Burmese Buddhist traditions. Seager made clear that “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” (4). Besides, trade and commerce played an important role in the spread of Buddhist practice in America. To be specific, the American merchant ship, namely ‘The Empress of China’ aiming to expand trade and commerce with China, reached Canton in the year 1784 and introduced Buddhism in America. In addition, the immigrants from China who happened to reach the mainland of America in 1820s spread Buddhist practices in America. The World parliament of Religions (Chicago, 1893) deeply influenced the spread of Japanese Buddhism in America. Later, the influx of Tibetan immigrants to America due to Chinese holocaust in Tibet introduced Tibetan Buddhist practice in America. The instability in the Asian nations like Laos and Thailand resulted in the large scale immigration of Asians to America. Besides, this resulted in the introduction of Theravada tradition of Buddhism in America. So, Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans is not rigid but flexible. To be specific, the amalgamation of different Buddhist traditions deeply rooted in the Indian Buddhism is the foundation of the Buddhist practices in contemporary America. This helped the American Buddhism to accept the core elements of American culture. Traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia The traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia is based upon Gautama Buddha’s preaching. Within this context, Buddhism does not believe in the existence of the God. Instead, Buddhism proclaims that one can attain salvation or ‘moksha’ through mediation. The Buddhist philosophy or the teachings of Gautama Buddha is the core aspect of the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia. Besides, the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia is able to incorporate different cultural aspects. To be specific, the Indian Buddhism can be considered as an extension of Hinduism. For instance, most of the practices of Indian Buddhism are deeply rooted in the practices of Hinduism. The only difference is that Hinduism believes in the existence of God but Buddhism discards the same. Within this context, Buddhism accepted some elements of Hinduism and became popular beyond Indian context. This characteristic of assimilation was helpful for Buddhism to spread to the different parts of Asia. Swearer made clear that “Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia have taken leadership roles in causes that have led to both direct and indirect political consequences” (132). In China, Japan, Tibet and other Asian nations, Buddhism accepted the core elements of Taoism, Confucianism and other similar religions. As pointed out, the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia is based upon the human quest to attain the eternal truth/salvation or ‘moskha’. Within this context, the traditional practice is strictly limited to the context of Buddhist teachings or text-based knowledge. Contrast study: The contrast study of the Buddhist practices between the Americans and Asians includes the difference in the role of women in religious matters, difference between text-based and meditation-centered practice, difference between traditional and reinterpreted Buddhism, and cultural differences. A. Difference in the role of women in religious matters Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans provides ample importance to the role of women in religious matters. To be specific, the spread of Buddhism due to the influx of immigrants from Asia is interconnected with the growth and development of feminist ideology in America. Gross made clear that “For it has been noted, though not frequently or forcefully enough, that the single biggest difference between the practice of Buddhism in Asian and the practice of Buddhism in the West is the full and complete participation of women in Western Buddhism” (25). The American women who believed in Buddhism began to question the importance given to patriarchy in Buddhist texts. For instance, Stephanie Kaza, Joan Halifax etc are some of the feminists who questioned the male domination in Buddhist religious works. On the other side, the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia is strictly limited to the context of male domination/patriarchy. Earlier, women’s role in Buddhism was limited to an extent because they were not allowed to enter the public domain. From a different angle of view, male domination did not allow women to be active participants in religious matters and were forced to be within their private space/family. So, sociological shift is evident in the American Buddhism (say, complete participation of women) and Asian Buddhism (say, marginalization of women). B. Difference between text-based and meditation-centered practice The Asian Buddhism is based on text-based practice of Buddhist teachings. To be specific, the religious texts are most important to the Asian Buddhists because it is interconnected to their day to day life. Besides, Asian Buddhism provides ample importance to the philosophical side of Buddhist ideology and its usefulness in day to day life. Salvation or ‘moksha’ is not a vague idea in Asian Buddhist philosophy because one can attain the same by combining Buddhist philosophy and practice. On the other side, American Buddhism provides ample importance to the practical side of Buddhism. To be specific, American Buddhism is meditation-centered, not text-centered. Shaw states that “The way the Buddha taught meditation or closet intended to encourage people to ignore people to ignore the world or closet themselves away, as is sometimes thought, but, with the mindfulness that is constantly enjoined, to be aware of it and participate in it more” (4). From a different angle of view, the importance given by Buddhist practice to the study of mind, especially through meditation, attracted the Americans towards Buddhism. So, American Buddhism is meditation- centered (practical side) and the Asian Buddhism is text-centered (philosophical side). C. Difference between traditional and reinterpreted Buddhism Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans underwent reinterpretation of Buddhist practices and philosophy within the American context. To be specific, Buddhism is America is based upon a number of local groups or ‘Sanghas’. This internal division is helpful to reinterpret American Buddhism as an amalgam of different practices. This helped American Buddhism to evaluate its essence within the American society. But Brazier opined that “Buddhism does not belong to countries and should not become caught up in national pride” (62). The reinterpreted Buddhism deeply influences non-religious fields like popular music, film industry, philosophy, science etc. On the other side, Asian Buddhism is a little bit rigid due to the importance given to the theoretical side of Buddhist philosophy. Besides, Asian Buddhism or traditional Buddhism shows reluctance to accept modernity. Asian Buddhism provides much more importance to the guidance of Lord Buddha to attain salvation and this limits the scope to incorporate innovation to the core of religious beliefs. In short, the American Buddhism is comparatively flexible, but Asian Buddhism proves to be rigid. D. Cultural differences Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans represents the multicultural aspect of American society. One can see that the American society shows readiness to accept any religious belief to its core. While accepting Buddhism to the mainstream society in America, cultural difference was not a serious issue. Instead, the importance given by Buddhism to human psychology attracted the Americans towards Buddhist ideology. To be specific, American Buddhism represents the Western culture which shows acceptance to any religious belief. On the other side, Asian Buddhism represents Oriental culture. In Asia, immigration was not a factor of the spread of Buddhism. For instance, Buddhist principles are similar to Confucianism and Taoism. The core of Buddhist practice is the search of knowledge/ the secret of life or salvation. Besides, meditation is an important part of Buddhist belief. This concept was not strange to Confucianism and Taoism. Puri stated that “It was an intricate process of mutual influence, a creative adoption of the new doctrine with such modifications as were found necessary under the impact of local traditions” (40). So, the core element of Buddhism was similar to the other religious beliefs in Asia and the people were ready to accept the same. In short, Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans is symbolic of the acceptance of Western culture towards other cultures and the traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia is symbolic of Oriental culture. Summing, Buddhism practiced by contemporary Americans can be considered as the acceptance of modernism. On the other side, traditional practice of Buddhism in Asia can be considered as the traditional side of Buddhism. One can see that the role of women in Buddhism is undergoing rapid but positive sociological shift. The difference between text-based and meditation-centered practice does not divide Buddhism into two distinct water tight compartments. The difference between traditional and reinterpreted Buddhism and cultural differences prove that Asian Buddhism and American Buddhism are different to an extent but the foundation is same. Works Cited Brazier, David. The new Buddhism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. Print. Gross, Rita M. Buddhism after patriarchy: a feminist history, analysis, and reconstruction of Buddhism. Albany: SUNY Press, 1993. Print. Puri, Baij Nath. Buddhism in central Asia. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publ, 1987. Print. Shaw, Sarah. Buddhist meditation: an anthology of texts from the Pali canon. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print. Seager, Richard Hughes. Buddhism in America. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. Print. Swearer, Donald K. The Buddhist world of Southeast Asia. Albany: SUNY Press, 2010. Print. Read More