[Buddha-l] Bourgeois Buddhism

[Jo]

It has been my experience, limited though it might be, that the Western
Buddhists I know follow the 8-Fold Path while ethnic Buddhists I know do
not. 
No  idea if this is true beyond the people I know
 
I have visited a local Thai Buddhist temple center many times and given
talks there. Several of the monks always ask me about my attending some
upcoming  ceremony and are quite surprised when I say I won't. They seem to
think my sole  function as a layperson is dana and attending rites and
rituals.
 
Jack
_____________________

"They seem to think my sole  function as a layperson is dana and attending
rites and rituals."

That is indeed the Asian bag with vernacular Buddhism. 

Joanna