buddhism in america
The stresses and intensity of modern American society have influenced many people to adopt and adapt the principles of Buddhism and other Eastern religions. Some recent statistics from the US department of Health and Human Services show that 75% of the General Population experiences at least “some stress” every two weeks (National Health Interview Survey). Half of those experience moderate or high levels of stress during the same two-week period. It is common knowledge that stress can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and other illnesses in many individuals. Stress also contributes to the development of alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, cigarette addiction, and other harmful behaviors. It was reported that tranquilizers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications account for one fourth of all prescriptions written in the US each year. With so many mental health problems, it is almost reassuring that Eastern religions are steadily growing.Eastern religions have been practiced in Asia and the Subcontinent for thousands of years longer than Christianity. Buddhism, a main religion of Asia has been practiced in Tibet for Millennia. Buddhism, Zen and Hindu were first in . . .
Without change we would be absolutely inert, but the un-enlightened human condition is to fight change every inch of the way. ”(Wood, 3) “Unlike the rush of mostly younger Americans to Buddhism that occurred in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the new ranks include a larger percentage of seekers over 50”(Wood, 2). ”(Scorsesce) Most people in our society struggle to find the right views. The beatniks in the 50’s, the Hippies in the 60’s and 70’s. “Yauch is slight and soft-spoken, he says Buddhism, ‘felt real, not hokey. You find the way that you want to live, open up that way, and then pursue that way. It is no surprise that there have been formidable culture, linguistic, political, and material barriers to overcome in the transmission of Buddha Dharma from the East to the West and from the past on to the present and the future. Many who seek enlightenment in this day and age may not be able to fulfill their destiny within a purely monastic lifestyle. Its priests and adherents are recognizing that Buddhism must be shown to have relevant approaches to the problems which plague American Society. Those who fled remembered how the Buddha taught his enlightened disciples to continue to spread his teachings. ”(Layman, 80) We have adapted religions in many ways to fit our lives. But it is definite that there will be much more progression. He was known as Shasta, or teacher, and his objective was to remove the cause of all suffering to find true happiness. A poem that appeared in New Yorker Magazine shows how Buddhism has practically become a “household term” – “The huge head of Richard Gere, a tsonga blossom / in his hair, comes floating like a Macy’s / Parade balloon above snowcapped summit / of sacred Kailas.
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