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B
UDDHIST
in
america
M
ICHAEL
B
URGAN
J. GORDON MELTON
, SERIES EDITOR
faith
BUDDHIST FAITH IN AMERICA
Faith in America
Copyright © 2003 Michael Burgan
Foreword copyright © 2003 J. Gordon Melton
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec-
tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems,
without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Burgan, Michael.
Buddhist faith in America. / Michael Burgan.
p. cm. — (Faith in America)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-4988-2
1. Buddhism—United States. 2. Asians—United States—Religion.
I. Title. II. Series.
BQ732.B87 2003
294'0973—dc21
2003040815
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Contributing Editor: Beth Adelman
Designed by Thomas Carling, Carling Design, Inc.
Photo research by Laurie Schuh
Index by Nanette Cardon, IRIS
Photo credits:
Cover: AP/Wide World (main, bottom left); Don Farber (bottom center, bottom right).
AP/Wide World: 37, 53, 55, 58, 72, 82, 94, 99, 103; Art Resource 46; Bridgeman Art Library 11; Kokaku Blix 76;
Tom Carling 100; Corbis 24; Courtesy Shambhala: 91; Courtesy Tibet House: 94; Digital Stock 6, 14;
Don Farber, 32, 35, 60, 69, 70, 86, 96; Getty Images 49, 79; Giraudon/Art Resource, NY 17;
Library of Congress 29; Marcia Lippman 70; North Wind Archives: 20; Shooting Star/Touchstone Pictures
46; Timepix/Copyright Time Inc. 44; Barbara Weinstein 66.
Printed in the United States of America.
VB10987654321
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
C
ONT ENTS
Foreword by J. Gordon Melton
4
I
NTRODUCTION
A Prince and His Path
7
C
HAPTER
1
Buddhism Comes to America
21
C
HAPTER
2
Key Events in American Buddhism
33
C
HAPTER
3
Buddhism in American Culture
47
C
HAPTER
4
Buddhism in American Society
61
C
HAPTER
5
Buddhism in American Politics
73
C
HAPTER
6
Leading Figures in American Buddhism
83
C
HAPTER
7
The Future of Buddhism in America
97
Glossary
104
Time Line
106
Resources
107
Index
108
F
OREWORD
AMERICA BEGINS A NEW MILLENNIUM AS ONE OF THE MOST RELIGIOUSLY
diverse nations of all time. Nowhere else in the world do so many people—offered a
choice free from government influence—identify with such a wide range of religious
and spiritual communities. Nowhere else has the human search for meaning been
so varied. In America today, there are communities and centers for worship repre-
senting all of the world’s religions.
The American landscape is dotted with churches, temples, synagogues, and
mosques. Zen Buddhist zendos sit next to Pentecostal tabernacles. Hasidic Jews walk
the streets with Hindu swamis. Most amazing of all, relatively little conflict has oc-
curred among religions in America. This fact, combined with a high level of tolerance
of one another’s beliefs and practices, has let America produce people of goodwill
ready to try to resolve any tensions that might emerge.
The Faith in America series celebrates America’s diverse religious heritage.
People of faith and ideals who longed for a better world have created a unique society
where freedom of religious expression is a keynote of culture. The freedom that Amer-
ica offers to people of faith means that not only have ancient religions found a home
here, but that newer forms of expressing spirituality have also taken root. From huge
churches in large cities to small spiritual communities in towns and villages, faith in
America has never been stronger. The paths that different religions have taken through
American history is just one of the stories readers will find in this series.
Like anything people create, religion is far from perfect. However, its contribu-
tion to the culture and its ability to help people are impressive, and these accomplish-
ments will be found in all the books in the series. Meanwhile, awareness and tolerance
of the different paths our neighbors take to the spiritual life has become an increas-
ingly important part of citizenship in America.
Today, more than ever, America as a whole puts its faith in freedom—the
freedom to believe.
4
BUDDHIST FAITH IN AMERICA
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