Expert: Bodhicitta - 10/11/2004

Question
I'm trying to find some information concerning the relationships of Asian-American Buddhist groups and convert American Buddhists.  Can you help me, or perhaps speak to me from your own experience on the subject?

Answer
Hi Anne
Thanks for your question.

Firstly I am not in America I live in  Britain. So I can
talk a little to a similar question of Buddhism in the West. But it
might be best to approach a convert American Buddhist or
Asian American Buddhist to ask them the question. I think
if you check the profiles of other "experts" on here
you might find some or you could approach American
Buddhists via their web sites.

Actually I am curious what is behind your question. Are you writing
an academic study on this? I would be interested in more precision but I will make one or two general remarks.

The flow of Buddhism from one country to another, and one culture to another is nothing new of course. It has moved
from India to other Asian countries over time and this
all represents an interesting process. This process
might be expected to take several generations.

One of the successes of Buddhism is due to the ease that
it flows from country to country, and culture to culture.
The message of Buddhism includes a vast view of the cosmos
which far surpasses any minor differences between peoples
on the earth. Buddhism also includes a message that
the same awakened essence is present in all beings
no matter what their race. So this global, open feel
of Buddhism makes it non-racist.

Most Buddhist teachers in the early days were from Asia
or at least the teachers of the teachers were , which amounts to the same thing. Buddhism is always about
a lineage of teachers extending back. So its roots are
always in Asia.

So much of the movement of Buddhism into the West has been through the relationship
between Asians in the West and convert Western Buddhists.
The relationship here could be defined as a teacher-student
relationship.

It might be that you are curious if there is segregation
and differences between asian communities in the West and between convert Westerners? So maybe your curious about
the dynamics between communities or Sangha to put it in
Buddhist terms.

I think from the Tibetan Buddhist
view point there are Tibetans in the West who are practising
still using the Tibetan language in a strongly cultural
Tibetan way. There are Westerners who have learnt Tibetan
and practise with them in this way - sometimes people (rudely) accuse them of  being little Tibetans.

There are also Westerners and Tibetans
who have actively spent time transmitting Buddhism  into
Western culture. They do this through practise involving Westerners, and translating the texts, teachings  and commentaries into Western languages and Western culture.

This process takes time and one would think would take
several generations dedicated to translation and practise
to complete. This is very analagous to the processes that
took place when Buddhism moved from India to Tibet or from
India to China orginally.

One very well known Tibetan teacher predicted that one
day Tibetans would come to the west to receive teachings!
So this is typical of the ego-less way the true nature
of Buddhist dharma should flow.

Anyways come back with more precision and detail on your
question if you wish Anne,

Bodhicitta