DIVISION
WITHIN
Asian-American Buddhists seldom
or never meditate. Their practice
of the faith includes venerating
ancestors, spiritually observing
holidays such as Lunar New Year
and doing yoga, and most believe
in nirvana and reincarnation.
The second camp of Buddhism
is made up largely of white converts, who count for about a third
of U.S. Buddhists, but whose practice of the faith has arguably seen
the most cultural popularity. This
group, which mostly focuses on
HUFFINGTON
03.17.13
meditation, has its origins in Tibetan, Zen and Vipassana traditions
that were popularized by a handful
of white Americans who traveled to
South and east Asia to learn from
Buddhist masters as interest in
alternative spirituality peaked during the countercultural movements
of the 1960s. The Vipassana (“insight”) tradition has become one of
the most successful because of its
secular appeal. The practice hinges
on the idea of “mindfulness,” which
is accomplished through meditation
techniques, and is focused on centering and grounding one’s self in
the current moment to see true re-
The weekly
“sit” at
the SIMS
meeting,
where people
are seated
in silent
meditation
for 40
minutes.