Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Why are the Chinese Buddhists and rest of Asians ignored by Western Buddhists ... or are they??
In response to Flower Ornament Depository blog post: Why is Tibetan Buddhism more poplular?
5 weeks ago the blog showed up in my feed today when I looked through my subscribed blogs.
In the comments I wrote this edited less 2,900 words that originally written:
I'm a mid-western woman and a Chinese Buddhist
bhikshuni. I do believe your article not
based on realistic numbers or any numbers as you stated in the first paragraph.
I do not see what you are claiming. Just because something is marketed in
Shambala Sun, Tricylce, and Buddhadharma does not make it as well-known as you
claim. TB Westerners are really good
business people. It is remarkable how ad
orentated these rags are, little content in them.
I do not agree with you.
Chinese Buddhism is about 160 years old in the USA and came with the
Chinese immigrants working on the USA railroads. TB is relatively new since the rush of
English print books in the mid-90s only featured Japanese Buddhism and Tibetan
Buddhism by said rags.
Why we are not seen, maybe we are not desirable maybe not as
marketable. US Media and religious organizations claiming diversity does not
include us in all its so-called coverage of religion. It is because somehow
Western people lump Chinese Buddhism as part of the hated-CC; we are to be
hated for a government we are not a part of overseas and never were. Chinese does not equal Commies. But somehow that get played up in the
politics of those engaging in persecution of one ethnic group that followed
Buddhism for centuries. Our order survives because we understand Buddhist
culture, endure to save it, uphold our precepts, struggle for time to cultivate
and study on our own. We have always
mixed different Buddhist traditions in our temples, all forms. Most western
people don’t realize that, if they did take the time to really understand
Buddhist culture from a Sangha member’s view then they would really treasure
their time in temples everywhere.
Real advanced TB practice requires fluent Tibetan, high
level of reading skills in Tibetan Sanskrit, and great deal of time and
patience waiting so you can gain access to a highly achieved master who can
actually teach you well. These masters
are in demand and do not have time to dummy down for those too lazy to do
this. Most of the TB monks and very few
of the TB nuns have any degree of traditional TB monastic education; mostly
they are rim sitters which is sad for they cannot attain much levels at
all. Lots of this has to do with lack of
language ability, for you can’t train if you can’t understand. Interpreters cannot give you the details,
they are too pressed for time. I’m fluent in Chinese so I know this first hand,
at dharma talks you must be able to understand the high level masters very
detailed instructions or you gain nothing.
Tolerance of other cultures should be given to understand
how to excel in your Buddhist practice. It is not fair to say our Chinese
Buddhist communities demand conformity from Western people, they do not. They say over and over again, we do not want
you to think we want you to be Chinese when you come into our temple we want
you to be who you are, American. Every
temple says this even FGS, DDM, CTTB.
They have all races and all countries people in their communities, fully
accepted and fully ordained.
Realize there are Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai,
Burmese, and many more including Japanese (non Vinaya); there are new movements
too here in the USA that are all colors of people. The white elite it seems that is who you talk
about most, I think maybe so; is such a small number as not to matter in the
data about Buddhism here in the USA. In
all these temples from all these countries there are Americans who take refuge,
a few ordain and you got way more than that 12 that you say you eyeballed when
you visited 2 places. Please let me know
if you want to visit more diverse places now, I’ll send a recommendation for
you ahead of your visit. I say start with CTTB and then visit Thich Nhat Hahn’s
group in Deer Park.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Inspire u? Y u?
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| Me, Ven Hong Yang, Bhikshuni |
Much of what I write is very earthy, sometimes it's not all that easy to accept basic dirt. So I all I can say is this, living is great as a Sangha. I am happy and in my element as a bhikshuni. It has definitely felt like fitting into a glove hand tailored just for me.
I love my robes and respect my tradition, I am grateful for this life that led me to take full ordination as a bhikshuni. I do not doubt the choice. I do not feel sad ever about uphold precepts, it's easy. I do not feel deprived of human affection for I get loads of attention.
I became a bhikshuni in the Chinese Mahayana tradition and that is only because I have an affinity for Chinese culture, have family that is Chinese and long history with families and friends of Chinese origin. I'm not a commie (geese isn't that obvious!) and didn't magically turn into Chinese like many who on objected to my trying to save Tibetan monks from self-immolation accused me of being (how stupid is that!). I don't have to respect such monks, all Westerners full of polluted thinking.
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| My daughter Liz |
I am grateful for my choices because I got loads of benefits from getting closer and being around my growing daughter to see her now almost 21 this month, and so happy! Even though my tonsure temple was not the best for me, it was good that she was allowed to stay with me there and I kept in touch with her loads more than being in Iowa or California. Because of that she grew healthy and strong. And I saw it. I am so proud of her! She joined right in and even when it was difficult for her or uncomfortable, she kept happy and got a good grounding in Buddhist life in a temple.
It is always inspiring for me to visit with other Buddhists, I am isolated here in Iowa from my Buddhist community, so I get on Facebook now almost daily. I love it, I get to visit with monks and nuns from all kinds of traditions in Buddhism. That is so precious to me, it helps me and sustains me while here in Iowa.
Special mention, it's very common for monastics to have pets, mine is Pepper she is a rescued kitten in the first photo, right after having her fixed. And now a hefty fur ball that purrs when she decides you must sit on the couch so she can lay on or near your legs and snooze. I've promised the shelter she is with me for life, and she will be. I want her comfy settled and happy every day too. She snorted when I asked her if she wanted to take refuge in the Buddha and receive 5 precepts, so I took that as a no. Which I have to settle for it is her choice.
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| Pepper at 4 months old and 5 pounds, just after surgery |
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| Pepper now at 13 pounds and 7 years old |
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