Customer Reviews

Old Wisdom In New World: Americanization

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Numrich takes a look at two prominent immigrant Buddhist temples. While his views are interesting, he never really seems to get inside the true nature of the temples or their congregations. Also, he always seems to be looking in from an outsider's point of view, not being of either temple's primary ethnic makeup. Numrich doesn't really probe into truly examining the immigrants' point of view, depending instead on many surveys, figures, and tables.

I read this book because I am an Asian American member of one of the two temples studied and wanted to see how it was represented. It's an interesting viewpoint and raises worthy issues but probably should not be taken as an authoritative view on Buddhism in America or the Asian immigrant experience.

Numrich's book was right on the mark concerning the adaptation of Buddhism to America, in this case Theravada Buddhism. Like a potted plant that sits on a windowsill, Theravada Buddhism will remain in its pot until planted in the ground where it will grow. Numrich's investigation into two communities reflects this very dilemma facing Theravada Buddhism. Although both communities are reaching out to their own, the fashion in which it is being done relfects an Asian element and not an American element, which will keep Theravada Buddhism in its "pot on the windowsill." Numrich's indepth research concerning the issue of "adaptation" is a well documented field study that gives the reader a greater appreciation of the growth that Theravada Buddhism must experience if it wishes to take root in America.