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

    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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