Why so few Western Buddhists?

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Saengnapha
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Saengnapha »

binocular wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:42 pm
Saengnapha wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:25 pmWhat's the difference what they think? They are not interested in Buddhism is my point. It's only the circumstance for them, not their way of living.
I'm saying there's a difference between attempting to practice Buddhism in an environment where Buddhism is at least nominally present; as opposed to attempting to practice Buddhism in an environment where Buddhism is alien to it, or where other people are even hostile to it.


Or do you think that living somehwere where most other people are, say, Christians, is in roundabout the same as living in a traditionally Buddhist Asian country where most people are only superficially interested in Buddhism?
Here in Bangkok, no one ever asks me if I'm a Buddhist or what I practice. I cannot remember a single instance. My own practice is private. Who would know what I believe just by looking at me? I don't wear an orange robe. I don't go to a Wat, either. If I lived in Berlin, it would be the same practice for me even if there were no Wats or orange robes walking the streets.

However, living my daily life here in BKK, is very different than living my life in Berlin, N.Y., or even India, for that matter. SE Asia has its own flavor and feeling. That is one of the reasons I like living here. It's very conducive to my current circumstances on a day to day level.
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Subharo
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

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binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:27 am I find it most interesting that you as a monk say such things.
Monks are humans too.
binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:27 am It's another set of generalizations, though.
Guilty as charged. They are indeed generalizations.
binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:27 am I find your list downright comical.
It was comical to write. I guess I wrote it as a form of catharsis. At least I avoided direct confrontation, which is slightly praiseworthy in Buddhism.
binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:27 am I think many Buddhist monks, esp. Western ones, would be offended by your suggestions.
Some people are virtually impossible to not offend. What does that say about them?
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
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No_Mind
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:19 am That was totally fascinating, No_Mind. Thanks.

In the same spirit, I'd like to take another crack at answering the question "Why are there so few Western Buddhists?"

After 11 years now in the monastic world full-time (9 years now as fully-ordained Bhikkhu), here's a short guide for Easterners or Westerners who find themselves trying to teach Westerners the subject of Buddhism (and perhaps this will help there to be many more Westerner Buddhists in the future):
....
Bhante, I did not mean that irreligious Westerners accept Buddhism as an organised religion but as a way of life. I believe much of the angst in West in recent decades is due to lack of faith in any body of beliefs .. it may be capitalism or nazism or scientology as long as one has faith in a set of beliefs it provides a home for the mind .. faith in something anchors us.

Buddhism due to its lack of God(s) seems a natural set of beliefs for West to turn to .. at least more than the 0.3% it stands at .. even if 10% of the irreligious became Buddhists that would be 5% of the population in most countries .. I wrote the post because I found surprising that 1 in 10 of the irreligious have not yet discovered Buddhism in spite of the massive presence Buddhism has on YouTube and social media space.

:namaste:

No_Mind
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
binocular
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by binocular »

Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:33 amHere in Bangkok, no one ever asks me if I'm a Buddhist or what I practice. I cannot remember a single instance. My own practice is private. Who would know what I believe just by looking at me? I don't wear an orange robe. I don't go to a Wat, either. If I lived in Berlin, it would be the same practice for me even if there were no Wats or orange robes walking the streets.
But you probably don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, don't mindlessly swat mosquitoes, have a limited range of emotional expressions (little or no anger, just the four brahamaviharas), don't swear, don't gossip, and more. Other people probably notice those things, and there may be social situations where they ask you about them. For example, where I live, it is outrageous not to drink alcohol, and people expect, sometimes even demand an explanation, or else, questions follow -- "Are you pregnant? ... Are you a recovered alcoholic? ... Was someone in your family alcoholic? ... Do you take some heavy medications? ..." It's really tedious. And it limits my social interactions with others. I imagine the same wouldn't happen if I lived in a traditionally Buddhist country.
However, living my daily life here in BKK, is very different than living my life in Berlin, N.Y., or even India, for that matter. SE Asia has its own flavor and feeling. That is one of the reasons I like living here. It's very conducive to my current circumstances on a day to day level.
Yes ... it does make a difference where one lives.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
binocular
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by binocular »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:22 amI wrote the post because I found surprising that 1 in 10 of the irreligious have not yet discovered Buddhism in spite of the massive presence Buddhism has on YouTube and social media space.
I'm sure many have discovered Buddhism; but far fewer seem to stick around. My father, for example, used to be interested in Zen, but gave up. He says that Buddhism is too idealistic and impractical.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by binocular »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:44 amMonks are humans too.
I laughed when I read that!
Some people are virtually impossible to not offend. What does that say about them?
That they have good self-esteem, I suppose. I'm virtually impossible to offend, so I don't what that is like to be someone who readily takes offence.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Subharo
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

Some people are virtually impossible to not offend. What does that say about them?

That they have good self-esteem, I suppose.
Well I, for one, am making a personal effort to not get all snooty and up myself, or I would regard that as a spiritual fault on my part, not a spiritual virtue. No doubt I have other personality flaws, but let at least snootiness not be one of them.
binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:25 pm I'm virtually impossible to offend, so I don't what that is like to be someone who readily takes offence.
Thanks for saying that.
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
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Subharo
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:22 am .. even if 10% of the irreligious became Buddhists that would be 5% of the population in most countries .. I wrote the post because I found surprising that 1 in 10 of the irreligious have not yet discovered Buddhism in spite of the massive presence Buddhism has on YouTube and social media space.
I too would love it if the percentage rose to 5%. Any serious Buddhist in Canada or the USA probably has the option of moving out to the West Coast, where Buddhism will be much easier to find (and will feel more like 5 or more %). But the East Coast? It seems to be a particularily stubborn place, IMHO. There can be quite a lot of liberality (meaning "Buddhist-friendly") in the larger cities in the middle of said countries. Again, these are admittedly more generalizations.
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
Caodemarte
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Caodemarte »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:02 pm
No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:22 am .. even if 10% of the irreligious became Buddhists that would be 5% of the population in most countries .. I wrote the post because I found surprising that 1 in 10 of the irreligious have not yet discovered Buddhism in spite of the massive presence Buddhism has on YouTube and social media space.
I too would love it if the percentage rose to 5%. Any serious Buddhist in Canada or the USA probably has the option of moving out to the West Coast, where Buddhism will be much easier to find (and will feel more like 5 or more %). But the East Coast? It seems to be a particularily stubborn place, IMHO. There can be quite a lot of liberality (meaning "Buddhist-friendly") in the larger cities in the middle of said countries. Again, these are admittedly more generalizations.
Buddhists are scarcer on the ground in the South East than the North East in the USA. Living in the south I look at the north as comparatively full of Buddhists.
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Subharo
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Subharo »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:22 am Bhante, I did not mean that irreligious Westerners accept Buddhism as an organised religion but as a way of life.
For Westerners to slow way, way down and find time to meditate regularily, etc., en masse, is like asking a pack of monkeys not to climb trees any longer. A subtle lifestyle concept like "ending bhava", (or as the Taoists would say, "Wu Wei") is not something Westerners will appreciate any time soon.

Perhaps this sort of thing (slowing down one's pace of life) is easier to appreciate for Indians. I heard one highly entertaining story from my Indian monk friend, who attended Kumbh Mela before ordaining. He said there was one naked Sadhu there whose only possession was a pillowcase stuffed right full of Marijuana. And he slept with the pillowcase clutched shut, and that was his pillow under his head. I repeat, that pillowcase of weed was his one and only one possession. :rofl:

Not even one pair of gotch.

So this gives me confidence that India knows how to slow their lives down, as examples are seen of this in the Sadhu culture.
No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:22 am I believe much of the angst in West in recent decades is due to lack of faith in any body of beliefs .. it may be capitalism or nazism or scientology as long as one has faith in a set of beliefs it provides a home for the mind .. faith in something anchors us.
Well, I've managed to develop faith in my Kammatana, and man has that ever made a difference. It was extremely hard to do. Again, not something that easy for Westerners to appreciate, generally speaking, as there are typically many, many other forms of instant gratification available to them.
Subharo Bhikkhu
"There is but one taste on this path, the taste of freedom" -The Buddha :buddha1:
chownah
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by chownah »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:53 pm For Westerners to slow way, way down and find time to meditate regularily, etc., en masse, is like asking a pack of monkeys not to climb trees any longer. A subtle lifestyle concept like "ending bhava", (or as the Taoists would say, "Wu Wei") is not something Westerners will appreciate any time soon.
I think the same thing is true of thai people......and they are buddhist.
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No_Mind
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

Subharo wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:53 pm So this gives me confidence that India knows how to slow their lives down, as examples are seen of this in the Sadhu culture.
I would not go as far as to say that Indians know how to slow down their life .. but .. we are taught from childhood (or children were taught when I was a kid) to let 'it' go .. that nothing except good character and health is worth clinging to .. that at end of the day this is where we are headed .. into flames

warning .. do not watch if you are sensitive



Note the lack of dignity with which the corpse is handled in its final few minutes before it heads into the incinerator. It has no value, so no dignity is needed to be shown in its final moments. The body is burned as soon as humanly possible .. usually within 6-9 hours. In case offspring lives abroad .. that is delayed to 2-3 days. On the other hand the homage to the departed soul called Sraddha is very dignified and respectful.

And we are taught to internalize this image by age of ten (or we were taught to internalize it by age of ten .. cannot speak for today's snowflakes).

This body .. the one being burnt was once a zygote which became a foetus which became an infant who grew up to be an adult .. ate food, passed excreta, felt lust, enjoyed sex, loved parents, siblings, friends, kissed his lover .. loved to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat, eat meat curry, cried when he was hurt, laughed when he got his first job.

and it is dead .. taking all of its desires and mental proliferations with it .. nothing survives except Pancha Bhuta - Kshiti (Earth as ashes), Ap (Water as vapour), Tej (Energy as flames), Marut (Gas), Byom (Space)

All its needs, desires has ended .. and no matter if I am (or if we are) a vagabond without a penny or the wealthiest billionaire in Mumbai we are within next few decades headed towards the same fate, the same gate of flames will greet us at end.

:namaste:

No_Mind
Last edited by No_Mind on Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by cappuccino »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:55 pmand it is dead .. taking all of its desires with it .. nothing survives
Annihilation?
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No_Mind
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by No_Mind »

cappuccino wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:22 pm
No_Mind wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:55 pmand it is dead .. taking all of its desires with it .. nothing survives
Annihilation?
The body .. yes. Any doubts? Do you have pet zombies on a leash like Michonne :?



:namaste:

No_Mind
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
Saengnapha
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Re: Why so few Western Buddhists?

Post by Saengnapha »

binocular wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:26 am
Saengnapha wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:33 amHere in Bangkok, no one ever asks me if I'm a Buddhist or what I practice. I cannot remember a single instance. My own practice is private. Who would know what I believe just by looking at me? I don't wear an orange robe. I don't go to a Wat, either. If I lived in Berlin, it would be the same practice for me even if there were no Wats or orange robes walking the streets.
But you probably don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, don't mindlessly swat mosquitoes, have a limited range of emotional expressions (little or no anger, just the four brahamaviharas), don't swear, don't gossip, and more. Other people probably notice those things, and there may be social situations where they ask you about them. For example, where I live, it is outrageous not to drink alcohol, and people expect, sometimes even demand an explanation, or else, questions follow -- "Are you pregnant? ... Are you a recovered alcoholic? ... Was someone in your family alcoholic? ... Do you take some heavy medications? ..." It's really tedious. And it limits my social interactions with others. I imagine the same wouldn't happen if I lived in a traditionally Buddhist country.
However, living my daily life here in BKK, is very different than living my life in Berlin, N.Y., or even India, for that matter. SE Asia has its own flavor and feeling. That is one of the reasons I like living here. It's very conducive to my current circumstances on a day to day level.
Yes ... it does make a difference where one lives.
You make some interesting observations. Perhaps if I were younger and a more social person, I would come into contact with more of the types of people you are talking about. But, otoh, this is why I am not as socially minded as I once was. Westerners, especially Europeans, tend to drink quite a bit. Somehow drinking is tied into their fabric of life. SE Asia and India are not like that outside of the expat groups. But, drinking is prevalent in Japanese and Korean cultures as well as Tibetan.
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