[Buddha-l] Bourgeois Buddhism

[andy]

Quoting Jack and Jo, in no particular order: 
> 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
> 

Wow, finally I can be a Buddhist!  Where do I send my dana? Do I get a 
membership card? 


James Andy Stroble, PhD