Buddhist Meditation Founds Its Function in Transoceanic Land
Author: Eleanor Choke-jaya
Posted on: 15th September 2019
Keywords: #meditation, #Buddhism, #religious, #immigration
Length: 1104 words
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History told that the scenario of immigration wave emerging among the various regime changes and political uprising regions in Asian countries pouring toward to the West, brought with these immigrants to the new land was Buddhism which was one of the most important resources used to reproduce their ethno-religious identity in new surroundings and to help them adjust to the challenges of surviving in a demanding and often threatening environment.
In the course of settlement, immigrants transplanted their traditional religious institutions in the new soil where both pre-existing and new immigrants adapt the religion in some elements to social conditions of the host country as in the early age, Buddhism was viewed as unfamiliar, something from the third world countries and often considered strange to people in an overwhelmingly western Christian society such as in the United States and Europe.
One thing being observed is that it was essential for the transplanting process of Buddhism to adopt the congregational form in its immigrant Buddhist communities which was accompanied by a simultaneous process-returning to the theological foundations of the so-called early Buddhism once the religion in the new environment faced diverse sub-traditions and ethnic groups within the religious community itself. The institutional changes require a certain theological justifications in order to keep its true essence meanwhile blending into the existing social obligations and norms.
By following what is believed to be a foundational and pure form of the teachings, followers claim that they now have a better understanding of their religion and believe that their religiosity has been increased and purified, representing a return to the true spirit of the teachings in its original roots taught by the Gotama Buddha.
Buddhism was also pressed to have its religious ambassadors examine the commonalities and differences of their beliefs and practices, in the way to enhance its appearance of the otherwise alien religion, creating fast track to blend with the locals’ mentality, accelerating the mission of establishing the religion and the effort to expand the outreach to the natives in the pluralistic religious circumstance so that the perceived exotic belief will take a firm root and have the new future. Many Buddhist temples are found to have adjusted some cultural rituals, an approach, the way of rendering the sermon to be more contemporary and more philosophical.
Meditation which is part of Buddhism is viewed as an appealing element and widely encouraged and propagated. Unlike, among the present homeland Buddhist countries: Thailand and others in mainland Southeast Asia in particular, scriptures studies has more places in the monastic arena. Thus it is inevitable that religious transplantation is also a process of transformation.
Records said that Buddhism in the West has attracted Western followers who are fascinated by meditation, vegetarianism or beliefs regarding nonviolence. Buddhist temples have received native-born white or black, as participants or converts. In couple with the presence of religious seekers among native-born Americans and Europeans, it is an important factor in the increasing inclusiveness of the immigrant religion from the East like Buddhism.
These native-born devotees are often designated as spokespersons for the temples and advocates of the Buddhist teachings when dealing with the larger society. Another incentive for including people outside traditional boundaries is legitimization of a religion for its revival in the home country as well as in the immigrant community. It is not rare to hear Buddhists make statements like this: Even Westerners are becoming Buddhists, so why don’t we Buddhists appreciate our own Buddhist tradition? Not only are Asians flattered by western devotees’ conversion to their religion but their confidence in their own religious beliefs and values is reinforced and legitimized by it.
Furthermore, another factor contributed to the religion stability is the immigrant Buddhists temple attendance. Regarding to the mentality in the new land of the immigrants, in the workplace or the neighborhood community, they have to be with many other kinds of people. But the temple is a secluded place where they can be comfortable with each other and do their own thing. Therefore, they make efforts to frequent the temple. This helps Buddhist temples to secure the regular support and keep the religion going.
Another interesting characteristic of the immigrant’s community is the constitution of highly educated professionals, political refugees, and intellectual exiles who are elites in their home countries. Therefore, for these immigrants, their social, political, and cultural as well as economic resources are substantial. In fact, they are classified among the educated, energetic, and creative people, not only in their home countries but also in their western host society.
So the so saying about the abandon of the devotees and the decline of the religion is on the increasing rate may not be necessary correct.
Through the observation, the pro-active stance of the Buddhist organizations in developing various programs and activities particularly meditation classes not only at their own in-compound but also off-compound in resort-like setting atmosphere to attract new adherents is also working as the effective means open to the voluntary-member recruitment opportunity. The recruits help push forward many religious missions, helping administrative works, assuming multi-tasks including being the strong force in fund-raising scheme to budget all designed activities and keep the organization going.
However, one unforgettable fact has shown that in the society where pluralism is visible and colorful and often advocated especially in the region of metropolitan districts and suburbs, the temples cannot assume the loyal adherence of its members in the same way as in the home country is. Religious seekers said that out of curiosity they had checked out Buddhist temples of other ethnic groups or traditions.
Temples are well aware of this impact and frequently design and arrange many more appealing meditation packages to bring in new people to join and to increase the regular members’ participation and commitment. Temples also see the need to reach out to new immigrants and new locals rather than waiting for them to come to the temples for fear that they are losing their potential
After all, Buddhist transplantation by the Asian immigrants in the West has the religious impacts on the home country learning that the Buddhist meditation is not only effective and necessary in a modern context but also make them rethink about the other function of the Buddhist meditation practice in a new light as a demanded product in the present Western capitalistic competitive faith market other than solely view it as the archaic means of mental liberation as in the past.
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