"Your stereotypical American Buddhist is very different from your immigrant Buddhist from Asia who grew up in that tradition," said Peru RPCV Sylvia Chiang, a member of Jade Buddha Temple who will attend medical school this fall



"Your stereotypical American Buddhist is very different from your immigrant Buddhist from Asia who grew up in that tradition," said Peru RPCV Sylvia Chiang, a member of Jade Buddha Temple who will attend medical school this fall

Waller County acreage to become Buddhist living, education center
By RICHARD VARA
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Caption:Buddhist monks break ground on the 515-acre tract in Waller County that will become the American Bodhi Center. Photo: Meenu Bhardwaj / For the Chronicle

HEMPSTEAD - A line of colorfully robed monks slowly walked around a small altar adorned with a white statue of Buddha. They sprinkled water on the ground as chants and drums echoed over the green rural landscape.

With that, the monks purified 515 acres of land that will become the American Bodhi Center, one of the largest Buddhist developments in the nation. Within two years, the Waller County site will feature a retreat center and short-term living quarters.

In the years to come, it will be home to a Buddhist college, a conference center, a convent and monastery and a housing development. It will help smooth the transformation of immigrant Chinese Buddhism into an American adaptation of the religion.

[Excerpt]

t takes five to 10 years to develop an experienced teacher. And that teaching has to be geared to Americans.

"Your stereotypical American Buddhist is very different from your immigrant Buddhist from Asia who grew up in that tradition," said Sylvia Chiang, a member of Jade Buddha Temple who will attend medical school this fall.

"Asian Buddhists are very concerned about tradition and social networks," said Chiang, a graduate of Stanford and a former Peace Corps worker in Peru. While Buddhism does not teach belief in a transcendent being, many Asian Buddhists pray to Buddha, she said.

Many Americans see Buddhism as self-developmental psychology or a philosophical lifestyle, she said. "I practice Buddhism more the American way," Chiang said.

richard.vara@chron.com

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April 30, 2005: Special Events RPCV Writers scholarship in Baltimore - deadline June 1 Gary Edwards' music performed in Idaho on May 24 Jody Olsen speaks at Ivy College on May 6 Delano Lewis to speak in Albuquerque on May 2 25 Apr Nepal RPCV film showing in Massachusetts on April 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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