Growing practice of Buddhism in younger generations?

Now-Is-reality

If you look into meditation halls you're likely to not see many younger people there, however many kids now-a-days slap on the label that they are a Buddhist. While it is not neccesary to go to a formal sangha to be a practicing Buddhist, it also makes me curious as to the new ideology that has sprouted out of what the younger crowds may label as buddhism. And while it is not my place to judge, I find it peculiar that many of these said buddhists, albeit those that I have personally come across, couldn't tell me what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path. Whether or not I am generalizing a broad group, I think it is nevertheless interesting that so many of these said buddhists do not know a lick about buddhism, but rather bring buddhism as a label that includes drinking tea, wearing skirts and or loose shirts and are NEVER to wear jeans.

While I think it is very nice to bring compassion and such into one's life, and if this is what they are doing than that is wonderful. But I must beg the question: Is buddhism becoming a fad in the western world rather than a life style?

Epicurus

Meh, they aren't any worse than all them hippies talking about one consciousness this, one consciousness that.

Arjquad

I see what you mean. When I first started learning about Buddhism I did not call myself Buddhist. I waited until I learned at least the basics before I started doing so. Right now I am tentative in calling myself Buddhist because I still do not know much but I can see the path laid out in front of me and I am trying to follow that path to the best of my ability.

Yacababy

I think it honestly depends on the person. I am sure some kids have taken it up as a fad. Perhaps some have the intent in taking it seriously but not the focus. I myself am I young believer with much to learn and who has every intention of making this a lifestyle

SyntheticKinetic

There are plenty of people (especially here in the west) who like to be a part of a something - even if they know nothing about it. Lots of ignorant people of all spectrums here - unfortunately, the "fad" buddhists are the least of my worries...

Zayl

I never call myself a Buddhist unless someone specifically asks me what I'm in to. even then I respond with "I'm just a Buddhist" and I try to be humble about it, no need to wear my path on my sleeve.

MindGate

I met the first Asian kid in my town, Bobby, about a year ago, before I was even a Buddhist (yet I had some vague knowledge on it). I asked him, naturally being interesting in peoples beliefs in religion and politics, "Bobby, do you have any specific religion that you follow?" He said, "Yeah, me and my family are Buddhists."

I was surprised and asked him, "So... you know what the Eightfold Path is, right?" He just responded saying he doesn't know one damn thing about what religion he "follows."

Dakini

Sounds a lot like some of the Christian kids you've talked to, MG.

I commented to a lama once that some Asian Buddhists consider themselves Buddhists simply because they grew up in a Buddhist culture. They don't follow the precepts, etc., but they'll do the rituals to help them feel better. And some Christians are the same way. He said he agreed, there are a lot of Buddhists who aren't really practitioners, they're just "culturally Buddhist".

genkaku

Fads sometimes turn into serious pursuits.

Sometimes fads turn out to be nothing more than a frivolous pursuit.

I guess I'll keep practicing.

Now-Is-reality

Well I just find it interesting that someone would call themselves buddhist simply because of it's good connotation, also being considered "hippie-ish".
Personally I think that everyone is enlightened, but most peoples' eyes are closed. So it's not wrong to say you're buddhist, everyone is and everyone isn't, it's just a word...

DhammaDhatu

I find it peculiar that many of these said buddhists, albeit those that I have personally come across, couldn't tell me what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path.

In Asia, it is the same, including in home and small shops with Buddha images & photos of monks everywhere...

In Buddhist countries, the average person cannot explain what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path...even though they may alms to the monks each morning

mithril

Didn't really notice; personally i say i'm an atheist when asked. If i told people in real life i was Buddhist they'd imagine me doing some strange ritual of some random worshiping religion. Buddhism, whatever, i don't really care about the label. On the other hand, some people have to, for example my parents always say they are Christian as not to insult my grandparents, even though they aren't and don't ever visit church (unless there is someone they think is important there, like once every few years).

So even if it was a fad i don't think i'd really care; my practice is my practice anyway, it won't suffer because someone doesn't keep their percepts.

ZenBadger

I started down this road wearing my Buddhism as a label. I'm not sure that it is anything to be concerned about, some will naturally find their way to practice and others will just keep on wearing that label without anything to back it up.

A lot of the younger Buddhists I know started to become interested through practicing the martial arts, or an interest in far-eastern culture. Very few went the traditional western route of searching for a philosophical framework. I don't think that you can really make any kind of strategy for that, you just have to make sure that the correct information is available when they realise that they want it. Its up to us older Buddhists to build the foundations just in case they are needed.

Kartari

I find it peculiar that many of these said buddhists, albeit those that I have personally come across, couldn't tell me what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path.

In Asia, it is the same, including in home and small shops with Buddha images & photos of monks everywhere...

In Buddhist countries, the average person cannot explain what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path...even though they may alms to the monks each morning

Wow. I understand that people are people wherever you go, they'll associate with whatever they grew up with. But they don't know the fundamental basis of the Buddha's teachings? That's like a Christian not knowing what the Golden Rule is.

Kartari

Buddhism a fad, lol. Well, at least some of the kids will probably catch on and learn something.

TreeLuvr87

Why does it matter? Do they hinder your practice at all? If anything, they could help your practice. I agree with the idea that it's annoying, but use it as a tool to develop some compassion towards them and towards yourself :-)

Buddhist or not, we are ALL in this together.

SherabDorje

I wish this thread really was about the practice of Buddhism in younger generations. It would be really interesting to know if it's a real trend toward real practice. My son is now 14, and I have taught him about Buddhism, but I have left it up to him to make his own decisions. He now lives with his mother in another state and we only have minimal contact through Facebook, so I don't know what he's really doing about it. I doubt that he goes to Catholic church with his mother, but he might just to keep her happy.

So can we write something about whether or not younger people are gravitating toward Buddhism?

taiyaki

I find that a lot of young artists tend to have interest in Buddhism. It kind of takes a willingness and open mindedness to approach buddhism. Most people are close minded, but at the same time most young people are quite cynical of religion.

I find that most young people call themselves Buddhist or rather they say that they have an interest in Buddhism. The interest is there but there really is no sincere seeking. I suppose one has to live life a bit and go through a bit of suffering to come to Buddhism lol.

We have a lot of surface level Buddhists, who just read the sutras and spit them back out. Which is nice, but I ask those people has Buddhism changed your life for the better? Or are you making Buddhism into another religion like Christianity?

Now-Is-reality

Why does it matter? Do they hinder your practice at all? If anything, they could help your practice. I agree with the idea that it's annoying, but use it as a tool to develop some compassion towards them and towards yourself :-)

Buddhist or not, we are ALL in this together.

Well I stated it in my OP that it doesn't matter. I was just bringing up a topic.

Now-Is-reality

I find it peculiar that many of these said buddhists, albeit those that I have personally come across, couldn't tell me what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path.

In Asia, it is the same, including in home and small shops with Buddha images & photos of monks everywhere...

In Buddhist countries, the average person cannot explain what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path...even though they may alms to the monks each morning

I feel as though it is culturally different in Asia though. Over there Buddhism is more along the lines of Christianity (born buddhist, you're a buddhist).

I was talking about specifically in the west where it has become fashionable to label yourself Buddhist. To a lot of who commented, i know it doesn't matter, and I'm not saying it does. We are all here with our eyes closed regardless. Read through the messages before criticizing...

Personally I think that everyone is enlightened, but most peoples' eyes are closed. So it's not wrong to say you're buddhist, everyone is and everyone isn't, it's just a word...

Arjquad

So can we write something about whether or not younger people are gravitating toward Buddhism?

You can ask me whatever you want.

soulive1112420

why be a Buddhist when you can become a Buddha? Personally i don't see why people need to slap a label on themselves. But I have to agree with now is reality about my generations knowledge of Buddhism. Not many people i know claim to be Buddhist but the one who do when i try to discuss the 4NT or the eightfold path even the 5 precepts they don't have a clue. never mind if i ask em if there familiar with specific adepts or budhist story's they look at me as if im nuts.

Now-Is-reality

Well, I find it interesting is all mostly. I actually have a teacher whom tells his classes that he is a buddhist. One day I went into his class aiming to have a discussion with him about it, and he hadn't known much about particular areas of buddhism that interested me. So I thought to myself, maybe he just started, or whatever. But then I got into a discussion with him on compassion and generosity and such and he was, IMHO, spot on. He was able to practice compassion and give back, and be kind to others and not judge so much without knowing all of the philosophical points of buddhism. I found it nice. He acted in a manner that he was distinguishable as a buddhist, even though he didn't "know as much" about certain topics, but he still understood compassion, impermanence, karma and all of that on his own level. And that is fine. Or beautiful in a way.

Jason_PDK

If you look into meditation halls you're likely to not see many younger people there, however many kids now-a-days slap on the label that they are a Buddhist. While it is not neccesary to go to a formal sangha to be a practicing Buddhist, it also makes me curious as to the new ideology that has sprouted out of what the younger crowds may label as buddhism. And while it is not my place to judge, I find it peculiar that many of these said buddhists, albeit those that I have personally come across, couldn't tell me what the Four Noble Truths are... nor the Eight Fold Path. Whether or not I am generalizing a broad group, I think it is nevertheless interesting that so many of these said buddhists do not know a lick about buddhism, but rather bring buddhism as a label that includes drinking tea, wearing skirts and or loose shirts and are NEVER to wear jeans.

While I think it is very nice to bring compassion and such into one's life, and if this is what they are doing than that is wonderful. But I must beg the question: Is buddhism becoming a fad in the western world rather than a life style?

Hi guys,

I'm 15 and that definitely doesn't include me!
I made a proper investigation first, way before I became a buddhist and then another investigation before I decided that Jodo Shu was right for me.

I think you may be right about quite a few people but not everyone.

Well, I find it interesting is all mostly. I actually have a teacher whom tells his classes that he is a buddhist. One day I went into his class aiming to have a discussion with him about it, and he hadn't known much about particular areas of buddhism that interested me. So I thought to myself, maybe he just started, or whatever. But then I got into a discussion with him on compassion and generosity and such and he was, IMHO, spot on. He was able to practice compassion and give back, and be kind to others and not judge so much without knowing all of the philosophical points of buddhism. I found it nice. He acted in a manner that he was distinguishable as a buddhist, even though he didn't "know as much" about certain topics, but he still understood compassion, impermanence, karma and all of that on his own level. And that is fine. Or beautiful in a way.

He sounds so nice!



Jason