Thoughts on Buddhism in America (Part 2)

I decided to break up my thoughts about the two news programs into two different sections, for length and due to my inherent laziness.

The second video, from KTRK ABC 13, talks about how American Monks may be the future for Buddhism in America. I am not sure if Bante Kassapa is one of the first Anglo-monks (the American monk from the temple near my home town was first ordained in the 70's), though American born monks are a rare occurrence. Most monks in America were born outside the country, and came here to teach Buddhism to westerners and immigrant communities. And while Buddhism has become influential within the United States during the last half century, it has yet to establish an independent sangha comparable with the monastic communities in traditional Buddhist countries.

An argument could be made that an American sangha, independent from oversight by sanghas outside the United States and composed of members drawn mainly from the American populace, will develop in the future. However, I find the idea suspect. Buddhism is not alone in its trouble attracting a significant monastic population. Catholicism, an established and popular religion in America, is also struggling to find Americans to fill offices of monks and priests.

Possibly due to its Protestant roots, American religion emphasizes lay participation within religious communities. Clergy speak with greater authority on matters of faith and doctrine, but that authority does not carry the same weight as in countries that traditionally have a well-defined religious hierarchy. The egalitarianism characterized by American religion leads religious traditions to play down, or outright eradicate, the differences in spiritual merit/insight between lay practitioners and the clergy. The clergy, then, becomes less of a locus for spiritual power and more of an expert in religion; a person who is well versed but not essential more spiritual than his community.

For Buddhism, the egalitarian relationship is translated into offices, such as meditation teachers, who are more advanced in meditation techniques, but lead lives similar to that of the rest of their community. They have homes, pay taxes, get married, have kids, and go to a movie on a Friday night. Therefore, to establish an American sangha with its own independent monastic system has to overcome the challenges of countering the trend within American religion to laicize religious traditions.

I have yet to see anything in American Buddhism to suggest it can meet the challenge.