Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Caucasian Buddhists?
Hello all,
I'm new here, so apologies if this is posted in the wrong category.
I will start off by saying that I am a Caucasian Mahyana (Pure Land) Buddhist.
Often times, when I tell other this to others who are not Buddhist, I find myself subject to odd looks, and laughter. However, I just go about my day, as I normally would. Though I thought I would ask a question or two.
1) Is it okay or acceptable to be a Caucasian Buddhist? ( I won't change my views, was just wondering the opinions of others.)
2.) Are there many other Caucasian Buddhists?
I'm new here, so apologies if this is posted in the wrong category.
I will start off by saying that I am a Caucasian Mahyana (Pure Land) Buddhist.
Often times, when I tell other this to others who are not Buddhist, I find myself subject to odd looks, and laughter. However, I just go about my day, as I normally would. Though I thought I would ask a question or two.
1) Is it okay or acceptable to be a Caucasian Buddhist? ( I won't change my views, was just wondering the opinions of others.)
2.) Are there many other Caucasian Buddhists?
0
Comments
I'm half Italian, Half English, lived in France, am of Jewish/Scottish descent.... I'm just Buddhist....
I don't see the need to attach any more labels than necessary....
There are a whole bunch of us
Just kidding.......welcome to the fold.
I am a white male from Australia. Apparently 2.5% of us Aussies are buddhist but I suspect a large portion of those are immigrants from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma etc.
Secondly, I don't understand why you think ethnicity would be an impediment to being Buddhist. In fact, ethinicity has no relevance whatsoever in the spiritual life. Still, of course there are plenty of caucasian Buddhists! There are Buddhists all across the globe. The Buddha didn't judge people based on the color of the skin. In fact, he abhorred the caste system. Have you not heard of Martin Luther King jr's speech? That character is more important than skin color? So, please, try not to go around believing what other people say. It is hard to find someone wise. Forget about these ethnicity, it leads you nowhere, or nowhere good. Don't think of yourself as "caucasian" or even "buddhist". That would only make your sense of self stronger. And will lead you to think you have to defend yourself against attacks you will take too personally.
Meanwhile, meditate on this, if you have not done so yet:
" It is not new, O Atula! It has always been done from ancient times.They blame one who is silent, they blame one who speaks much, they blame one who speaks little. There is no one in this world who is not blamed." Dhammapada 227
And be at ease.
In Caucasian country's, the Buddhists are often Caucasian.
That being said..Pure land does not attract as many Caucasians as other expressions of Buddhism.
Just where in Canada are you?
@how I'm in Vancouver.
@lotuspadma thank you for your insightful wisdom my friend.
@Jeffery I never looked at it that way before. Thanks!
I went to a Thai restaurant in Vancouver that served traditional Thai breakfast to a Thai crowd on weekends. The staff thought it was very strange that I was there. The equivalent establishments in California draw plenty of Westerners, so I was surprised the staff in Van wasn't expecting a non-Thai.
Coincidentally, I'm also interested in Pure Land as well. Nice to meet you : )
So long as you yourself are comfortable with your spiritual practice, I don't see why your ethnicity would matter. That being said, Pure Land Buddhism can be quite wrapped up with cultural/ethnic traditions which may/may not resonate with you. So yeah, as long as that's not a problem with you (it seems like it isn't), then why should it be one?
Perhaps I need to shed more light on the subject. It is not the temple, at all. In fact, I find my temple one of the most peaceful places to be. I go there often, and everyone including lay members are very helpful. I am not judged by anyone at my temple, as could be expected. I was there two days ago, and was told I was welcome to join them in their services any time. The temple is however, i nan area with a large Asian populous. More or less, the first question pertains to my family.
Zen/Tibetan & Vipassana/scoop up the most of the Caucasians.
Another interesting stat from the last 40 years of attending Buddhist centres on the West coast of North America is that the medium age group of those joining has always been the same. In the 70's it was 20 year olds/in the 80's it was 30 year olds/ in the 90's it was 40 year olds /2000 it was 50 year olds etc etc.
And after talking about the theoretic irrelevance of Buddhist ethnicity I do notice a distinct lack of Asians in the Caucasian temples. I do not think this is from any Buddhist cause so much as a social/ comfort oriented one.
the place that I consider my Buddhist home is Bhavana Society forest monastery in West Virgina. If you go there for the typical retreat you will see mostly westerners as it is a famous place for the teaching of westerners, but if you go there and see the "real" community that supports the place during times like Vesak and Katina.. you as a westerner will be vastly outnumbered in a giant sea of Sri Lankans.
regardless in any buddhist place(temple, monastery, retreat center) you will have the variety of ethnicity, which for me has always been great because I love meeting people from all cultures.
5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
In case you're wondering, "ha" is the Thai word for "5".
You actually have people 555 at you? Wow! Who are these people.
Yes, there are lots of Caucasian Buddhists...and glad you are one of us!
2. See #1.
Try being an African American or Latino American and identifying as a Buddhist. I've walked into some sanghas and have been met with such looks of astonishment. Not in a "OMG THERE'S A BLACK MAN HIDE YOUR PURSE!" kind of look. More of a "Wow, there's a Black guy here. I'm gonna meditate with a black guy!"
It's a perfectly understandable phenomenon, when you take into consideration the history of Western Buddhism.
If you said that it's discriminative for anyone to say that a Black person (for example) shouldn't be a Buddhist, then yes, that's correct.
But for a Black person (for example) to say that the Black community isn't very receptive toward Blacks being Buddhist, then that's just stating reality.