[Buddha-l] Western Buddhism and devotion

[Bob Zeuschner]

I can't speak for others, but there are supposed to be at least four 
ways of being religious.
One is devotion to deities. I can't find an ounce of _bhakti_ anywhere 
in my own nature; if anything, I push it away (not good for a Buddhist).
Another way to be religious is to enjoy religious rituals. I find them 
uninteresting and of little personal value.
Another way is meditative; I find some value in _dhyana_.
Another way is to use one's rational mind, one's ability to think 
carefully and critically, which is how I understand _jnana_ or _prajna_, 
and seems to be the only way that I can participate in religion.
For this reason, I find myself unable to inculcate devotional or ritual 
Buddhism in my children, for personally I find myself unable to relate 
to these other _marga_.
Bob
Dept. of Philosophy

curt wrote:
> Dan Lusthaus wrote:
>> One interesting factor that seems to be emerging is that it makes a huge
>> difference -- in terms of transmittability to children -- if one of the
>> spouses is a "native" Buddhist, i.e., someone born Buddhist into a 
>> "Buddhist
>> lifestyle." Obviously such a parent would have their own childhood
>> experiences to draw on, to remember, to reenact.
>>
>> Any success stories with non-"native" Buddhist parents? Or is this a 
>> missing
>> ingredient for Western (aka American) Buddhists?
>>
>>   
> 
> Many western Buddhist converts have gone out of their way to avoid (and 
> as often as not actively and arrogantly disparage) the more 
> emotional/devotional side of Buddhism - precisely the side that is more 
> likely to capture the imagination, and the heart, of a child.
> 
> Curt Steinmetz
> 
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