The Ascension of Buddhism in America

The ascension of Buddhism in American culture is a simple twist of popularity and understanding stemming off of its initial breakthrough in 1893 during the World’s Parliament of Religions, conducted in Chicago (Smith 1). America has traditionally been considered a Monotheistic nation, but has been mostly acceptant of all views. As America is built off of religious freedoms, Buddhism was able to nestle a home among communities in the United States.

The founder of Buddhism was a man named Siddharta Gautama. He was born as a prince of a small kingdom located near today’s Nepal, around 500 B.C.E. (Gurinder 1). According to the legends, Siddharta was raised in the lap of luxury. He was given the finest clothes, riches, and a mansion for every season (Fisher 136). Despite having anything his imagination could conjure, he was unconvinced of their value (136). As the story continues, he was presented with the four sights that were being kept from him (136). These sights included death, sickness, old age, and a monk seeking lasting happiness rather than material possessions (136). After these sights, Sidhharta began his long path to enlightenment. After six years of searching, he had reached his goal of an ultimate consciousness called Nirvana, or enlightenment that is above ordinary human states of mind (Gurinder, Numrich, Williams 1-2). After his discovery of the ultimate consciousness, he was given the title of Buhhda, which means “Enlighten One” (2).

Centuries after the death of the Buddha, his teachings spread throughout Asia and dominated (2). Around 1500, Western powers began entering the Buddhist controlled areas of Asia and created colonies, which persisted into the middle of...

... middle of paper ...

...en, Tendai, Nichiren, and Jodo Shinshu (1).

Buddhism continued to expand after this event. In an article published almost a year later, Atlantic Monthly, an author noted that out of all the Eastern religions, Buddhism was the best known and most popular (Gurinder, Numrich, Williams 5). Buddhist centers for interested whites began opening in several cities spanning from New York to San Francisco in the beginning of 1897 (6).

Buddhism continued its expansion into the 20th century and saw continual bursts of influence throughout the following decades. In 1993, the World’s Parliament of Religions chose to hold their ceremony in the same city, Chicago, a 100 years later (40). Since its early roots in America during the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions, one estimate placed approximately three million Buddhist in America at the close of the 20th century (40).