Title

Dharma Diversity and Deep Inclusivity at the East Bay Meditation Center: From Buddhist Modernism to Buddhist Postmodernism?

Authors

Authors

A. Gleig

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Contemp. Buddhism

Keywords

Philosophy; Religion

Abstract

Through an ethnographic study of the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland, California, this paper examines recent attempts to diversify meditation-based convert American Buddhism. Celebrated as the 'one of the most diverse Buddhist sanghas in the world', EBMC opened its doors in January 2007 with the goal of offering a more diverse alternative to the predominantly white, middle-class populated American Buddhist groups in the Bay Area. The EBMC is rooted in a 'gift economy' and offers weekly meditation groups for People of Color, LGBTQI populations, and people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. While the EBMC houses separate identity-based groups, it is its attention to the multiple axes of difference-race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, and disability- what I identify as 'dharma diversity'-that mark it as unique. In conclusion, I suggest that EBMC's diversity culture might indicate the emergence of a new postmodern stage in the assimilation of Buddhism in America.

Journal Title

Contemporary Buddhism

Volume

15

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

312

Last Page

331

WOS Identifier

WOS:000346335000007

ISSN

1463-9947

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