Buddhist Studies And Meditation In American Universities

A special mention should be made of developments inand also in London, Paris and some other parts of
the United States during the last few decades. TheEurope, no other aspect of Buddhism has a stronger
Americans seem to have been speeding up to takeappeal than Buddhist meditation. Meditation is becoming
the lead in the activities of spreading the knowledge ofa fashion among younger people and those men and
Buddhism in the West, both public and academic. Thewomen who have plenty of time to spare. In the
publication of books on Buddhism has continued to rise.United States there are several meditation centres,
Research scholars, serious students and ordinarytwo of which are particularly well known: one in
practical people do not fall short of new titles toRochester, New York, headed by Philip Kapleau, and
contribute to their knowledge and understanding ofthe other, a Zen centre, under the charge of Suzuki
Buddhism. In many American universities there areRoshi. So far, among the methods of meditation the
departments of religion where Buddhism is one of themost popular one has been that of the Japan's Zen
subjects of study. At the University of Wisconsin aschool of sudden enlightenment. Modern
programme of Ph.D. Degree in Buddhist Studies haspsychoanalysts represented by Erich Fromm have
been established with the aim "to train teachers andengaged themselves in a study to analyze Zen
scholars to understand Buddhism not only as a datummeditation from a psychoanalytic perspective and
of social or philosophical history but also as a profoundshowed that meditation taught by a Zen master is the
expression of human religious experience, withBuddhist equivalent of psychoanalysis in the West. A
remifications in art, music, literature and the lives of itstrend has, however, developed for an increasing
followers."3 At Columbia University study in the specialinterest in Theravada meditation. A Western Buddhist
interdepartmental programme in Buddhist studies isand psychiatrist, Dr. Douglas M. Burns, through his years
carried out in conjunction with work for the Ph.D.of experience of Theravada meditation practice in
Degree. At Harvard University, besides the Ph.D. inTheravada countries, has examined the medical and
Sanskrit and Indian Studies, students can pursue apsychological aspects of Buddhist meditation and
programme for the Ph.D. in the Study of Religion in'therelated it to scientific studies. The current political
Special Field of Buddhism. From time to time,importance of Southeast Asia stimulates the interest in
workshops on one or another aspect of BuddhismBuddhism even more, though in different aspects and
have been held at institutions of higher learning.from different perspectives. Centres for Southeast
Speaking of the workshops in Buddhist meditationAsian Studies and Southeast Asian Programmes or
conducted under his initiative at Oberlin College inDepartments have been set up in many American
January of 2512/1969 and 2513/1970, Dr. Donald K.universities. Buddhism has been taken up for study not
Swearer says: "The project was a success in moreonly as religion, but as a foundation of Asian thought
ways than I had anticipated. It fulfilled my expectationsand as a great social and cultural tradition. Many
on the levels of both personal relevance and insightAmerican scholars and graduate students have been
gained into the nature of Buddhism."1 "The centralactively involved in doing research in Southeast Asian
message of Buddhism, rather than losing meaning, wascountries such as Thailand and Burma. They live and
enhanced. Its highest goals and ideals weretravel among the villagers and tribal people in far
appreciated and understood in some instances,provinces, studying among other things Buddhism as
perhaps, even more genuinely than among those whopart of the common life of the people and as a cultural
call themselves Buddhist."2 In big American cities today,background of the society.