| John Walters, a British journalist converted to | | | | exemplifies those whose thinking has been decisively |
| Buddhism, writes in his The Essence of Buddhism: | | | | influenced by Buddhism, and even as devout a |
| "This, in the West, is a period of gigantic material and | | | | Catholic mystic as Thomas Merton was deeply |
| economic progress..... It is often boasted that | | | | involved in Buddhism before his untimely death in Asia |
| everything in America has, with her amazing material | | | | while visiting Buddhist centers." |
| progress, changed for the better. But what of man ? | | | | "Yet, among all the varieties of Buddhism one can |
| Everything may appear happier; yet man himself is no | | | | find in America today and all the forms of Buddhist |
| happier. Today, as statistics prove, a bigger | | | | practice, no aspect of Buddhism has a stronger |
| proportion of people than ever before worry | | | | appeal than meditation, especially among younger |
| themselves into insanity. Psychiatry has become a big | | | | people." |
| business because of the fears of men and women | | | | "Buddhist meditation is attractive for many reasons, |
| that they are going mad." "An increasing number of | | | | to be sure. For some it offers a retreat from the |
| men and women, bewildered by the material and | | | | chaos and complexity of today's world. For others it |
| ideological chaos of today, are finding that the | | | | may serve as a means of introspective |
| teaching of the Buddha brings them back to sense | | | | self-understanding; and, for still others it is the means |
| and clarity, to serenity and peace." | | | | for attempting seriously to grasp the truth of |
| Trevor Ling, Senior Lecturer at the University of | | | | Buddhism." |
| Leeds, writes: "In other quarters there is a suspicion | | | | In the words of another American writer: "Today |
| that religion in the West has betrayed man at the | | | | Buddhism and Buddhist art have spread round the |
| most important point in life, and consequently a | | | | world, from Japan east to America, from India west |
| tendency to find meaning in Eastern Religion." | | | | to Europe." |
| "There is plenty of evidence that in Western Europe | | | | "With the advance of science and psychology many |
| people desire to find a coherent and meaningful | | | | of the older faiths have suffered. Their beliefs went |
| system of values.... It may be that the words and the | | | | against the new knowledge and the new knowledge |
| way of the Buddha have much to contribute at this | | | | won. But in this conflict the teaching of Buddha |
| moment of history to the religious life of the West." | | | | required no adjustments. Its wisdom has |
| According to Dr. Donald K. Swearer, "Among | | | | encompassed everything that modern thought can |
| American college students at this time there is an | | | | devise. Over 2,500 years ago the Buddhists had |
| active and increasing interest in Asian religions. While | | | | already solved many of the problems that modern |
| acknowledging the esoteric appeal of Buddhism and | | | | psychology is still discovering." |
| other Asian religions, this interest is not simply part of | | | | "It is perhaps significant that while mighty empires |
| the youthful rebellion against the religious | | | | built upon greed and oppression have never lasted |
| establishment. Rather, much student involvement in | | | | for more than a few centuries, the selfless life of the |
| these areas reflects a genuine quest for a meaningful | | | | Buddhist community has carried it safely through |
| set of values and a viable life-style. Nor is the | | | | 2,500 years ... Knowledge of Buddhism is being sought |
| growing interest in Buddhism simply the preserve of | | | | with increasing interest in the West, for it offers a |
| the young. John Cobb, an outstanding contemporary | | | | personal philosophy to counteract the fragmented |
| theologian, has observed that Buddhism offers one | | | | condition of Western society where many individuals |
| of the most compelling religious alternatives today, | | | | no longer feel part of, or responsible for, the |
| and Christian ministers utilizing Buddhist insights and | | | | community in which they live. Expressions of this |
| practices are becoming less and less rare. Indeed, a | | | | distress are seen in the demonstrations of students, |
| United Church minister friend of mine recently wrote | | | | flower people, hippies, and others who wish to drop |
| requesting information on Zen Buddhism to be used in | | | | out of, or change a society which they feel no longer |
| a senior high church school class." | | | | supplies their needs." |
| "Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular in the | | | | As it was written by a German scholar, Ernst Benz: |
| United States. Its popularity rests not only on the | | | | "Many of these European students of Buddhism |
| appeal it has among college students or the role it | | | | became converts to the new faith. They were also |
| has played in influencing "hip" culture. It offers a | | | | active in the creation and guidance of Buddhist |
| serious religious option for many Westerners, and it | | | | organizations-matters in which the Asiatic Buddhists |
| may well prove to have a significant impact on | | | | are less inclined to engage. |
| Judaeo-Christian thought and practice. Alan Watts | | | | |