Face to faith: How western Buddhism has changed in 50 years

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10 Western Buddhist views on how religion and its followers have changed since their arrival in the west

is 50 years since the Buddhist teachers began arriving in the West in the 60s and Buddhism crashed on landing at the counter. So what have we learned about Western Buddhism?

1. It is a question of lighting.

Many who found Buddhism in the 60's saw the peak experience nirvana as the final. A decade later the recovery of these hippies were painfully aware that Buddhism is more concerned with reforming the character and behavior that mystical experiences, great. Young Buddhists are often triggered by the mysticism of social action.

2. It focuses on the monks.

In most Asian Buddhist monks are true professionals, focusing on meditation and study, while the lay supporters. The distinctions between monks and lay people do not fit into modern society and Western monastic orders are relatively rare. No monastic practitioners are often very serious and that the power of various Buddhist movements.

3. Tibetan Buddhism has baggage.

Tibetan lamas to come to the 1970s seemed to meet our fantasies Shangri-La. But with the inspiration and wisdom, but also brought sectarian disputes, shamanism, the "incarnate lama" system (Tulku), tantric practices and deep conservatism. Tibetans like Western, but we realize that baggage.

4. Schools are mixed.

most Asian Buddhist teachers expected them to develop their existing schools in Western countries. Therefore, we have western Zen, Theravada etc. west, but the borders are disappearing, like the Western Buddhists, motivated by common needs, explore the Buddhist tradition. The emergence of western Buddhist world is essentially non-sectarian.

• 5. People take what they need, not what we are given
. For all the talk of the line, transmission and purity of the teachings of Buddhism in the West is driven by student needs and wishes of teachers.

6. Mindfulness is where Buddhism and the West meet.

Aa Buddhist mindfulness practices

are applied to everything from mental health care for eating out, and now we are witnessing an "attention boom." These approaches are applied to large Buddhist ideas of modern life, which represents the largest development in Western Buddhism since 1960. It is likely that will shape the next 50 years.

7. But not only the meeting point.

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