The Star Spangled Buddhist E–book/E–pub

• Hardcover
• 208
• The Star Spangled Buddhist
• Jeff Ourvan
• English
• 20 March 2020
• 9781620876398

Jeff Ourvan ↠ 1 FREE DOWNLOAD

SUMMARY The Star Spangled Buddhist FREE DOWNLOAD Ç The Star Spangled Buddhist SUMMARY ✓ JFKMONTREAL.CO ↠ Jeff Ourvan The full story of Buddhism in the United States illuminated and enlightened for today’s reader Approximately four million Americans claim to be Buddhist Moreover hundreds of thousands of Americans of various faiths read about Buddhism are interested in its philosophical tenets or fashionably view themselves as Buddhists They’re part of what’s been described as the fastest growing religious movement in America a large group of people dissatisfied with traditional religious offerings and thirsty for an approach to spirituality. Following the Buddha In AmericaBuddhism has become a presence in American life as many people try to follow Buddhist teachings while an even larger number of people show Buddhist influence Jeff Ourvan s book The Star Spangled Buddhist Zen Tibetan and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the uest for Enlightenment in America 2013 is a short guide to three different ways of following the Buddha in America Zen Tibetan Buddhism and Soka Gakkai Ourvan has enjoyed varied careers as a geologist literary agent and attorney He has also written eclectically In 2012 for example he wrote a book with former major leaguer Orlando Cepeda How to Coach Baseball so Every Kid WinsThe book has a uixotic beginning In 1983 Ourvan describing himself at the time as a nice Jewish macrobiotic geologist receives a chance opportunity to attend a Soka Gakkai meeting in New York City and almost immediately and seemingly rashly signs up The scene bears the hallmarks of superficiality But the book won me over in what follows Ourvan writes thoughtfully and sincerely He combines his own personal experiences with substantial information and insight into American BuddhismOurvan points out that the United States is uniue in the number and breadth of the Buddhist traditions within its borders He focuses on the three largest American Buddhist groups Zen Tibetan Buddhism and Soka Gakkai These are three large and different groups and offer much to consider Ourvan acknowledges but does not discuss a fourth group based upon the Theravada Buddhist tradition and mindfulness meditation As it happens this is the part of Buddhism with which I am most familiarThe book offers a short overview of the Buddha and Buddhism before examining the three American Buddhist groups under the headings of the Buddhist Triple Jem the Buddha Dhamma and Sangha Under each heading Ourvan he examines the history and American practice of the Zen Tibetan and Soka Gakkai schools He discusses the important doctrines of each group the manner in which each group came to the United States and leading American practitionersOurvan points out that each of the groups has had a difficult path in the United States Leading figures in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism have become emeshed in sexual and less freuently in political scandals The Soka Gakkai group was excommunicated in the early 1990 s by monastic parent group in Japan and now functions independently as a large Buddhist lay organizationOurvan points out differences between the groups on the time and in some cases financial resources each group demands from its followers and on the diverging paths to enlightenment each follows He finds commonalities among all the schools in the espousal of nonviolence the strong sense of the impermanence of life and in the importance of the mentor student relationship The importance of having a teacher Ourvan argues is fundamental and difficult for Americans to grasp Trying to learn Buddhism without a teacher is perhaps like trying to learn to play the piano well on one s own Ourvan also stresses the importance of individual effort relying on an early injunction from the Buddha to be an island onto oneself and to strive on with diligence Ourvan has come to believe that the path to enlightenment must be taken person by person one at a timeOurvan writes perceptively and sympathetically about each of the three schools of American Buddhism he considers He clearly is most comfortable with the Soka Gakkai school in which he has practiced since young adulthood Ourvan praises Soka Gakkai for its universality openness to diversity and accessibility of its teachings He also is critical of the organizational structure of the groupThis book offers an engaged overview of American Buddhism and of the contributions that Buddhism might make to American culture Ourvan writes Plagued as we are with issues of personal and collective violence as well as a culture of blame Americans will find that Buddhism offers a clear way forward The book will appeal to readers curious about Buddhism and to readers with a strong interest in the way Buddhism has developed and continues to develop in the United StatesRobin Friedman

SUMMARY ✓ JFKMONTREAL.CO ↠ Jeff Ourvan

SUMMARY The Star Spangled Buddhist FREE DOWNLOAD Ç The Star Spangled Buddhist SUMMARY ✓ JFKMONTREAL.CO ↠ Jeff Ourvan Grounded in logic and consistent with scientific knowledge The Star Spangled Buddhist is a provocative look at these American Buddhists through their three largest movements in the United States the Soka Gakkai International TibetanVajrayana Buddhism and Zen Buddhism The practice of each of these American schools unlike most traditional Asian Buddhist sects is grounded in the notion that all people are capable of attaining enlightenment in “this lifetime” But the differences are also profound the spectrum of philosophical e. Not perfect but uite goodOurvan attempts to give readers a contemporary look at three Buddhist schools of thought which have become part of the American scene I could uibble with his histories of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism but he gives a fair presentation given that he is a part of Sokka Gakkai the other school he considersHe does observe Zen and Tibetan Buddhism from a Sokka Gakkai perspective noting controversies in those schools while excusing controversies of Sokka Gakkai and claiming that Zen and Tibetan Buddhism are for the upper class not egalitarian enough due to the costs which can be associated with them in some casesAs far as I m concerned none of those controversies mean anything They are about press sensationalism than anything else I would have liked a sympathetic view of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism but the reader can get a somewhat reasonable view of all three schools just be sure to read some of the writings from these schools of thought to gain a better perspective before making any final conclusions Ourvan is a bit soft on what enlightenment is supposed to be in these schoolsFor me Ourvan s vocabulary in discussing Buddhism is a little too collouial leaving some ideas hazy but that might not be the case for other readers since I am a scholar on Buddhism You might like this approachGive it a try Tennessee Reunion Williamston Wildlife Rescue #3 just be sure to read some of the writings from these schools of thought to gain a better perspective before making any final conclusions Ourvan is a bit soft on what enlightenment is supposed to be in these schoolsFor me Ourvan s vocabulary in discussing Buddhism is a little too collouial leaving some ideas hazy but that might not be the case for other readers since I am a scholar on Buddhism You might like this approachGive it a try

SUMMARY The Star Spangled Buddhist FREE DOWNLOAD Ç The Star Spangled Buddhist SUMMARY ✓ JFKMONTREAL.CO ↠ Jeff Ourvan Xpression among these American Buddhist schools is as varied as that observed between Reformed Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism The Star Spangled Buddhist isn’t written from the perspective of a monk or academic but rather from the view of author Jeff Ourvan a lifelong practicing lay Buddhist As Ourvan explores the American Buddhist movement through its most popular schools he arrives at a clearer understanding for himself and the reader about what it means to be and how one might choose to be a Buddhist in America 9 bw photographs. An excellent introduction to the 3 schools of Buddhism practiced in the USAThis book is insightful and informative even though it definitely leans in the direction of promoting the Soka Gokkai school of Buddhist practice