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From: raja@bombay.cps.msu.edu (Narayan S. Raja)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Conference on Buddhism
Message-ID: <1319@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 20 Jul 90 13:52:01 GMT
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In article <1262@idunno.Princeton.EDU>, (J Ramanathan) writes:

|>      CONFERENCE ON BUDDHISM IN CANADA
|>      --------------------------------
|>
|>       --Toward Partnership in the Making of Buddhism
|>                                      in the West
|>
|>  Location:      Zen Buddhist Temple
|>                 Toronto, Canada.

|Will someone who did manage to attend the conference please post a synopsis
|here?  Alternatively, you may e-mail it to me.  Also, is there a proceedings
|of the conference available?  

This was not an academic conference, so there
won't be any formal "Proceedings".  I would say 
this Conf. was really meant for Buddhists or their
"fellow-travellers".  If there is any summary-type 
document I will let you know.

Having relatives in Toronto, I was there for
4 days and attended many of the sessions.  Here
are the impressions of an interested and
sympathetic non-Buddhist:

1.  I was quite surprised at the number of Buddhist
     groups all over Canada (apparently there are
     at least 35 big/small temples in Toronto alone).
     They are of all sorts -- Theravada, Mahayana,
     Vajrayana (Tibetan), and non-denominational.
2.  Estimates of the no. of Buddhists in Canada
     range from 85,000 to 250,000.  Generally
     speaking, they are concentrated in Ontario,
     British Columbia (Vancouver), and Montreal.
3.  Most of them are "ethnic" Buddhists from Vietnam,
     China, Korea, Japan, S.E. Asia, etc.  Most
     such groups seem fairly "closed" -- serving
     their own community and not much interested in
     the outside world.  In fact, most of
     the conference attendees were non-immigrants
     ( "native" Canadians or Americans).
4.  There was a LOT of discussion about how Buddhism can 
     be "Canadianized" and become part of the
     mainstream, breaking away from its cultish image -- 
     which, everyone agreed, was essential.
     Even some of the ethnic groups have made English
     translations and provide services in English.  
5.  There is little awareness of or co-operation
     between different Buddhist groups.
6.  By far the oldest (and largest) group is the
     "Buddhist Churches of Canada", which is mainly
     populated by Canadians of Japanese origin.  It
     is about 80 years old, has "churches" all over
     Canada, and claims several ten thousand members.
7.  The "ethnic" groups all face the problem of
     how to keep their organization alive as older
     members die and the younger generation is not
     particularly interested.  The Vietnamese
     community alone seems to have succeeded in
     getting their younger generation very actively
     involved.
8.  On the other hand, the "native Canadian" groups
     seem to be growing both in number and size.
9.  The most aggressively proselytizing group (and
     allegedly the fastest growing) is NSC (Nichiren
     Shoshu of Canada).  Its fanatical and intolerant
     aspect was criticized.
10. At this point, I must say that in general the
     Buddhists do seem to be more interested in
     "growth" than I, being of Hindu origin, am
     used to.  Of course they are nowhere in the
     the same class of pushiness or proselytizing
     as Christians or Muslims (no offence).  Or maybe
     I should say, rather, that they are open to the 
     idea of non-Buddhists becoming Buddhists -- which
     is not really the case among Hindus (IMO).
11. There was a lot of discussion of whether and how
     Buddhists should get involved in social justice,
     ecological, and related topics.  Ended inconclusively.
12. I couldn't stay for the sessions on Women and
     Buddhism -- to my great regret.
13. In general, I found them un-pushy, open-minded,
     generally "liberal", and disinclined to 
     bad-mouth other religions -- all of which I liked.
14. If there is another such conference nearby, I'll
     probably show up at least at mealtimes -- fantastic
     vegetarian food from all over the world!!     :-)  :-)


Narayan Sriranga Raja.