Meditation centers became popular during this time, and so did extensive study into eastern religions, such as Buddhism.
There is another aspect of Buddhism that has had a remarkable effect on American society in just about every area, and that is yoga. While all Buddhists do not practice yoga (or meditation, for that matter), a large part of them do. Yoga has spread from being a relatively unknown practice to one of the most popular types of no-stress exercise in the country today. Millions of people attend yoga classes each week across the country, and it is touted as an excellent source of exercise for mind and body.
Buddhists are often thought to be non-materially oriented and interested more in spiritual enlightenment, but that is another area where the religion has altered in America. Author McCormick continues, "Instead, one's external, material circumstances are viewed as an effect of one's inner, spiritual condition. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that when asked about the goals and benefits of chanting, conspicuous benefits, such as acquiring a new home, a car, success in one's career, or good health, are mentioned frequently" (McCormick, 2002). Thus, Buddhists have helped impact American society, but American society has helped impact the beliefs and teachings of Buddhism, as well. That may be a reason that there is still so much interest in Buddhism, because the religion has been able to alter and modernize with the times to make it more relevant in modern, twenty-first century America.
There are other areas where Buddhist beliefs and teachings have had to alter to conform to American society. When Buddhism began to gain popularity in the country, many Buddhist monks immigrated to the U.S. To teach at Buddhist centers and temples, and some immigrated as a result of the Vietnam War and other reasons. When they reached this country, many of their teachings and rituals were no longer relevant. Author Seager notes of just one problem, "While cotton...
When the old Manchu dynasty failed to come up with ways to thwart the invading foreigners, a new nationalism was born in China. The old pastimes and rituals (p. 214) had allowed China to become soft. This awakening nationalism - partly a rejection of "foot binding, servant-girl bondage, prostitution, gambling," and opium smoking - was stoked not just by the colonial aggression, but by a spreading literacy (educational institutions
Not only is the United States vastly superior to South Korea in military might, the United States also dwarfs South Korea in economic strength. South Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is about 900 billion dollars. The United States, in contrast, has a GDP of 13 trillion. Perhaps the greatest difference between the two countries is the constitution of their respective populations. South Korea is one of the most homogenous countries in
Legal Immigration Is Good for the United States With the United States opening its boarders to thousands of legal immigrants each year, immigration has become one of the most hotly debated issues in the country. However, what has largely fueled this debate has to do with the impact of both illegal and legal immigrants on the United States' economy, crime rates as well as education and environment. While some continue to
Org Crime Organized crime underwrites the bulk of political, social, and economic history in America. What has often been mentioned in passing as legitimate business activities can and often should be reframed as organized crime, such as the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the colonial mercantilism that it supported (Woodiwiss, 2003). When organized crime is taken out of its Hollywood context, which portrays organized crime as an immigrant problem, some patterns emerge
acculturative stress of African Catholic Missionary Nuns (ACMN) serving in the United States. This chapter is divided into five parts. The first part explains the meaning of acculturation and adaptation experiences specific to missionaries. This part emphasizes (1) different perspectives from social and behavioral scientists examining the phenomenon of acculturation (2) different theoretical models describing the stages of acculturation (3) dissimilarities between immigrants and missionary immigrants and what makes
An examination of the many issues like the left-right divisions in the monastic order, Buddhist social activism, the rise of organized lay movements as well as the Buddhist founded and inspired forms of political activity indicates that indeed politics has a great influence on Buddhism (Harris 1). How cultural and social forces shaped Buddhism in China A review of literature indicates that cultural and social forces shaped Buddhism in China. The
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