Buddhism: in the news (2)

Another weekly report on Buddhism in the news… This week is a quiet one, with the Dalai Lama gracing our pages again, along with a great article in the Christian Science Monitor on American Buddhism…

Dalai Lama to Hollywood: “make a movie about Buddha.” 🙂 I know what you’re thinking.. “the Passion of Siddhartha” right? Maybe not. But a Hollywood feature about the Buddha (this time without Keanu Reeves) could create great benefits in America and beyond. As more and more people learn about Buddhism it seems that the world could very well become a more peaceful place – or at least those who advocate violence would become ever more marginalized. So, yea Dalai Lama.

And straying not far from the Dalai Lama is an article in the Christian Science Monitor which leads, “The Dalai Lama’s visit spotlights the fact that, with 1.5 million adherents, Buddhism is America’s fourth-largest religion.” The article reminds me of a paper I wrote a few years back on American Buddhism – citing Lama Surya Das and the fact that Buddhism appears to have grown by 170% between 1990 and 2000 – a leap greater than any other religion (or non-) in America. Of course, the numbers are still low, between 1.5 and 3 million adherents, with about half-2/3 composed of immigrants from traditionally Buddhist nations.

My teacher here, Alan Sponberg (aka Saramati) always stressed that “Western Buddhism” should be accompanied with a question mark since it is not yet clear what that term means, or even if it will ever find a meaning. “Buddhism” is in a constant struggle, especially today, against forces of co-optation (becoming a slogan and/or marketing device). My paper, when I wrote it, dealt more with internal issues in Western Buddhism – teacher relationships with students, hierarchies, psychological problems, etc… But I do agree, optimistically, with the CSM article, which notes that, “an identifiably American Buddhism is emerging.” The CSM article is also noteworthy for its breadth and depth, going so far as to look up and post the 4 Noble Truths from buddhanet.