Jeff Wilson (2)

Gettin’ Zen-ny wid it

Mindful American: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture by Jeff Wilson (Oxford University Press, $29.95).

Jeff Wilson, a professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Studies, has, in Mindful America: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture, written a fairly short and extremely insightful analysis of the mutual relationship between Buddhism and our American popular religion.

He outlines the how the practice of show more meditation among average practitioners began in Asia in the 19th century—until then, it was the province of priests, monks and nuns—then attracted American interest in the mid to late 20th century. But he’s also clear that the principles of mindfulness as practiced in traditional Buddhism include a mysticism that most Americans eschew; the version of mindfulness that is in full flower here is far more populist and far less time- and energy-consuming.

The main—and most interesting—thing about the way the Buddhism has influenced American culture is the way that it has been perceived by the public as a pan-religious practice, one that can be incorporated into other religious traditions without too much trouble. This is a far cry from the way that Buddhism is practiced in some Asian countries—for instance, the Buddhist persecution of Muslims in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Americans tend to think of Buddhism as non-dogmatic, the very opposite of “Western” religions—and it is, at least as practiced in the West.

Wilson’s not overly judgmental, but the sort of context he provides is very useful for understanding how what Americans are doing with Buddhism differs dramatically from its traditional practice. Like spaghetti, pizza and football, when Americans get our hands on something, we make it our own.

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