Buddhism

People around the world speak of American influence in politics, business, and merchandise. The terms ‘globalization’ or ‘global interdependence’ are recently being more understood by most when defining them with relation to corporations, environmental issues, and the modern economy. Can these terms be used to describe the religious beliefs in Canada? The religious life of North American society does not find its roots here at home. We live in a Christian domain. Its roots are 2000 years old and lie half way around the world. It is all around us in our homes, schools, workplace, media, and quite inescapable in our daily lives. In the 21st Century however, basic Christian values are being influenced by ‘Eastern’ religions. Buddhism, in particular, is becoming very popular in North America. What happens when a person attempts to be a Buddhist follower in a Christian society?

Long before Christian missionaries spread their word around the globe, Buddhist monks were traveling afar attracting followers. Buddhism was the world's first missionary religion. There was no evidence that any religion before it was interested in spreading their faith on a world-wide basis. Indeed, the opposite was the case. Pre-Buddhist religions were more interested in excluding others from its fold rather than welcoming them. However, outside Asia, these missionary attempts were somewhat unfruitful. Although Buddhism successfully spread throughout Asia it remained virtually unknown in the West until modern times. Knowledge of Buddhism has come through three main channels: Western scholars; the work of philosophers, writers and artists; and the arrival of Asian immigrants who have brought various forms of Buddhism with them. Many Tibetans, for example, fled from their country after the Chinese takeover in 1959. The wars in Indochina in the 1950s and 1960s led many Vietnamese people to move to and settle in America. Other Buddhists from countries such as Thailand have established businesses in the larger Western cities. They have all brought their Buddhist beliefs to their new homes, and helped to set up Buddhist centres all over North America. With technology and the expansion of travel and communications, the West has been able to find out more about Buddhism in this century than in all the time before.

What is the appeal for North Americans? Buddhist attitudes of peace, mindfulness and care for all living creatures have come to be the concern of many groups in the West. Buddhists believe that all things should be looked after: the earth, plants, birds, insects and animals. This is close to the feeling among many people in recent years that the human race should stop polluting the atmosphere and destroying the surface of the earth by cutting down forests.

"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity" (Albert Einstein)

Over 5 million Americans, and over 160,000 Canadians (1991 Census) consider themselves Buddhist. I found over 75 Buddhist organizations in Alberta alone!

The face of Buddhism in America can be seen everywhere. From corporations taking advantage of the spread of the religion and selling Buddha figurines in every shopping mall to Hollywood’s blockbusters incorporating the ideas. The movie, The Matrix, has a Buddhist underlying with regard to the themes of choice, and awakening. The Butterfly Effect is completely based on the idea that the entire universe is interconnected over time, a principle of Buddha’s teachings. Hollywood celebrities such as Brad Pitt (Seven Years in Tibet), Richard Gere (a proclaimed Buddhist), and Tom Cruise (The Last Samurai) also give light to Buddhism. One example, is how Phil Jackson has used a Zen Buddhist philosophy on the basketball court! Jackson has earned himself 7 NBA Championships (6 with Chicago Bulls, 1 with LA Lakers). Before he coached either team, they had talent, but could never make