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Buddhism is a path of supreme optimism, for one of its basic tenets is that no human life or experience is to be wasted, abandoned, or forgotten, but all should be transformed into a source of vibrant life, deep wisdom and compassionate living. - Taitetsu Uno
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Officially, the figure for the number of Buddhists in the USA is 3 million or approximately one percent of the population. That figure however is highly suspect. Here's why.
Beyond the 3 million are a significant number of women and men (teens and children as well) who are classified as "sympathizers" or "nightstand" Buddhists. They are likely not members of traditional Buddhist Temples but practice meditation, meet with meditation groups, read and study Buddhist writings (hence the label "nightstand" Buddhists). The figure for this group is not easily available but could be anywhere between 2 and 10 million. We'll us 5 million as mid point figure.
Along with the sympathizers there are those who say that Buddhism is important in shaping them in ways spiritual but not religious. A recent survey discovered that 12 percent of respondents made this connection. This spiritual but not religious category is growing and is estimated to be 30 million or more.
Taking all of these factors and figures into account, a more realistic statistic for the number of people who practice Buddhism in the USA is closer to 40 million.
Beyond the 3 million are a significant number of women and men (teens and children as well) who are classified as "sympathizers" or "nightstand" Buddhists. They are likely not members of traditional Buddhist Temples but practice meditation, meet with meditation groups, read and study Buddhist writings (hence the label "nightstand" Buddhists). The figure for this group is not easily available but could be anywhere between 2 and 10 million. We'll us 5 million as mid point figure.
Along with the sympathizers there are those who say that Buddhism is important in shaping them in ways spiritual but not religious. A recent survey discovered that 12 percent of respondents made this connection. This spiritual but not religious category is growing and is estimated to be 30 million or more.
Taking all of these factors and figures into account, a more realistic statistic for the number of people who practice Buddhism in the USA is closer to 40 million.
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Failure should not be an occasion for self-shame but an opportunity for self-growth.
- Victor M. Parachin
- Victor M. Parachin
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(public domain image from www.pixabay.com)
Mountains are very important in Buddhism. Physically, a mountain resembles an individual in a cross legged seated meditation posture. An ancient Vedic text, Chandogya Upanishad, includes the mountain as nature description of meditation: “The earth meditates...the waters meditate…. ….mountains meditate.” Buddhist art prominently features mountains both for their beauty and their powerful stillness. Historically Buddhist monasteries are located high up in the mountains far away from dense city populations for two reasons. First, is nature. Monasteries on mountains provide intimate contact with the natural world. On mountains in the countryside, monks could sit in quiet meditation unencumbered by the sounds and commotions of urban life. Secondly, Buddhists have favored mountains as a way of distancing themselves from political power and social pressures. Being away from political authorities gave monks wide freedom to live and teach without surrendering to preferences which come from being too close to centers of power. The distancing also allowed monks to maintain greater objectivity about political dramas and preserve an important critical eye concerning the manipulations and manifestations of worldly power.
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The Buddha is found within one’s own nature, do not look outside for it. When intrinsic nature is deluded, one is a sentient being. When intrinsic nature is awakened, one is a Buddha. - Hui-neng
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Damien Echols was one of the West Memphis Three, a group of teens who were convicted of murdering three young boys in 1993. Through DNA evidence and a deal with prosecutors, Echols was released from prison in 2011 and started a new life in New York City. During the last ten years of his wrongful imprisonment Echols was in solitary confinement. He used that time to meditate seven or eight hours daily. The practice saved his life. Interviewed for Tricycle magazine, he offers this insight into karma:
When it comes to karma, the number one thing I would like to say is that you can go through life being a victor or a victim. You’re going to have to face your karma. You can go through life with a “poor me” attitude—“Why me? Why this?”—or you can go through it saying: “I’m going to honor my life. I’m going to honor my karma. I’m going to come through this. I’m going to be stronger, I’m going to be wiser, I’m going to help spread what I learned from this situation to other people.
When it comes to karma, the number one thing I would like to say is that you can go through life being a victor or a victim. You’re going to have to face your karma. You can go through life with a “poor me” attitude—“Why me? Why this?”—or you can go through it saying: “I’m going to honor my life. I’m going to honor my karma. I’m going to come through this. I’m going to be stronger, I’m going to be wiser, I’m going to help spread what I learned from this situation to other people.
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Should one practice meditation for the removal of faults? It is not good to meditate on faults. Faults are to die, not to be killed. They arise from unbalance of virtues. - Ernest Wood
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I will do well to meditate upon the cat. Every animal has something very valuable for us.
- Ernest Wood
- Ernest Wood
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Thinking about the karmic effects of gossip throws cold water on quickly-moving lips.
- Thubten Chodron
- Thubten Chodron
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A new study reveals that one simple session of meditation can ease stress levels.
"Our results show a clear reduction in anxiety in the first hour after the meditation session, and our preliminary results suggest that anxiety was significantly lower one week after the meditation session," said study author John Durocher. He is an assistant professor of physiology at Michigan Technological University's department of biological sciences.
Anxiety can raise the risk for heart disease: Previous studies have shown that arterial stiffness may be worsened by traumatic life events, job strain, depression and either short-term or chronic anxiety, the researchers said. Heart changes linked with anxiety can lead to high blood pressure and organ damage.
For the study, Durocher and his colleagues recruited 14 participants with normal blood pressure but high levels of anxiety. The investigators evaluated the volunteers' heart rate, blood pressure, aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness before and after a 60-minute guided beginner mindfulness meditation session. This type of meditation focuses on breathing and awareness of one's thoughts.
The research showed that a one-hour session had notable benefits. Most of the participants continued to practice mindfulness meditation and experienced even more improvements one week later.
"Participants also had reduced mechanical stress on their arteries an hour after the session. This could help to reduce stress on organs like the brain and kidneys and help prevent conditions such as high blood pressure," Durocher said in a meeting news release.
"The results suggest that a single mindfulness meditation session may help to reduce cardiovascular risk in those with moderate anxiety," he added.
"Our results show a clear reduction in anxiety in the first hour after the meditation session, and our preliminary results suggest that anxiety was significantly lower one week after the meditation session," said study author John Durocher. He is an assistant professor of physiology at Michigan Technological University's department of biological sciences.
Anxiety can raise the risk for heart disease: Previous studies have shown that arterial stiffness may be worsened by traumatic life events, job strain, depression and either short-term or chronic anxiety, the researchers said. Heart changes linked with anxiety can lead to high blood pressure and organ damage.
For the study, Durocher and his colleagues recruited 14 participants with normal blood pressure but high levels of anxiety. The investigators evaluated the volunteers' heart rate, blood pressure, aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness before and after a 60-minute guided beginner mindfulness meditation session. This type of meditation focuses on breathing and awareness of one's thoughts.
The research showed that a one-hour session had notable benefits. Most of the participants continued to practice mindfulness meditation and experienced even more improvements one week later.
"Participants also had reduced mechanical stress on their arteries an hour after the session. This could help to reduce stress on organs like the brain and kidneys and help prevent conditions such as high blood pressure," Durocher said in a meeting news release.
"The results suggest that a single mindfulness meditation session may help to reduce cardiovascular risk in those with moderate anxiety," he added.