A Word from the Faculty — Tim Buckley

Buddhism in America

     Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the United States among native-born Americans today. There are estimated to be six million Buddhists in the U. S. A.  practicing in different Asian traditions transmitted to the West.

     “Buddhism” is more properly known as dharma (Sanskrit) or dhamma (Pali): “truth,” “way,” and “teaching.” It was originally taught in the present era by a human being, Shakyamuni or Gautama Buddha (566-486 BPE), as a new understanding of an already ancient Vedic tradition in north India.  The Dharma is neither religion nor not religion but a way of living in the only reality that is beyond categorization: “things as they are,” before concepts or words, perception or impulses, as though it were not all about us.

     The Way understands that our habit of seeing the world through static categories and labels and self-centered views is a form of suffering, of alienation from reality itself. The Way therefore teaches that meditation, comprehending our interdependence with all beings, and compassion are themselves liberation from suffering.  Dharma does not teach passivism but alert and direct response to our situation as it arises and changes, as all things do. In the Buddha’s teaching, the imagined “self” is also in constant flux, not a permanent entity. The way to be directly responsive is to be without self-centeredness.

     Satiated with striving for material abundance and frustrated by the ways our identities constantly blur or are quashed by pervasive social dehumanization, we are unsatisfied.   No matter how much we might have or how strong we think we are, something is missing.  The West is ready for The Dharma, 2500 years after the historical Buddha taught it.

     People familiar with Buddhism often know a simple verse:

Let me respectfully remind you, life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Let us awaken, awaken. Take heed, do not squander your life.

     We all know by the time that we are seniors that this is surely true and some are investigating the Dharma as a way to meet this truth.

     My MSC class, “Introduction to Buddhism,” has been well attended.  Some members of the class have been mystified, some delighted in being validated; all have seemed happy to be there.  At some point a person asked me if I was learning anything from them?  “Yes,” I answered most sincerely.  Thank you.