Defining My Community: A Materialist Perspective

In order to fully understand the relationship between Mahayana Buddhism and my community, I must first define my community. So far, I have scratched the surface of defining my community through anecdotal examples of specific qualities such as busy or stressful lifestyles. I have painted only a few strokes in what is the canvas of my community. During my research project, I have been trying to complete this painting, and now I will share my progress.

I chose to analyze my community through a materialist perspective, which is a perspective concerned with the day to day lifestyles of the working class. In feudal times, a materialist analysis of history would detail the lives of serfs working under nobles, listing everything from the tools they used to the amount of time they slept each night. Instead of focusing entirely on the feudal lords, a materialist historian would argue that detailing the lives of the serfs, the majority of the people living at any given estate or plot of land, paints a truer picture of life at that time. Thus, I want to detail the lifestyles of my community members as accurately as possible, focusing directly on the individuals and how they live their lives on a day to day basis. Considering that Mahayana Buddhism in my community is a belief system implemented by individuals on a personal level, and that the effects and implementations of Buddhism are best seen in day-to-day life, I think that this is a very relevant perspective to use for my research project.

What "objects" or "matter"do Buddhists in my community own and value? How does their world feel and look? Do Scottsdalian Buddhists structure their lives to flow seamlessly between the working world and the spiritual one? This is the lens through which I have chosen to analyze my community. In my next posts, when I dive deeper into what truly constitutes the lives of Buddhists in Scottsdale and Phoenix in 2013, you will now know where I am coming from.

Namaste!

Buddhism's Adaptability to Western Lifestyles

I live in a Western culture with a mainly Judeo-Christian religious background. Because Buddhism is an Eastern tradition, it may seem improbable for Buddhism to successfully adapt to exist in this Western culture. However, as I have learned throughout my research project, there is a strong Buddhist community in my Valley area. The ability of Buddhism to successfully adapt to this Western culture can be largely attributed to Buddhism's flexibility for incorporating the belief system into already established lifestyles. For example, 4 out of the 10 active Buddhist community members I questioned claim to incorporate Buddhism simultaneously with other religions, from Christianity to Judaism to Hinduism. This brings to mind a teaching I heard from the Rinpoche at the Emaho Foundation: believe only what you see with your eyes, what you yourself reason to be true. This teaches Buddhist practitioners to be skeptical along whatever road they choose to walk down, whether it is one seeking spiritual answers or pragmatic approaches to dealing with the stresses of life. Because Buddhism does not tell its students to believe something as inherently true, these students are not forced to accept a pre-mandated set of beliefs or spiritual premises. This freedom to believe ideas or teachings based on your own reasoning allows Buddhist community members to take what they like, and leave what they don't. Therefore, a Christian who inherently believes in the birth of Jesus Christ is not necessarily contradicting any other Buddhist teachings or messages. This freedom can extend beyond the religious sphere into politics or other institutionalized beliefs related to the family or certain aspects of the community. The Emaho Foundation hosts liberals, conservatives, married couples, single parents, straight people, homosexuals, Mexicans, African-Americans, Caucasians, and more. Because Buddhism does not inherently exclude any type of individual, the belief system naturally attracts people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Naturally, individuals with an already established cultural identity may be unlikely to embrace different lifestyle additions or ways of thinking. A Christian who is satisfied with his spiritual development and practice may find no need for any additional teachings or perspectives-- and that is fine. However, if individuals do choose to look elsewhere for answers (whatever answers those may be), Buddhism does not force them to alter any ingrained quality or belief. Because of this, Buddhism is easily adaptable at whatever degree the practitioner chooses.