Book Cover
Book
Author Numrich, Paul David, 1952-

Title Old wisdom in the New World : Americanization in two immigrant Theravada Buddhist temples / Paul David Numrich
Edition First edition
Published Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, [1996]
©1996

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Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 MELB  294.3910973 Num/Owi  AVAILABLE
Description xxiv, 181 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Contents Theravada Buddhism -- Theravada Buddhism in America -- A Study in Americanization -- 1. The Temples -- 2. Schism -- 3. The Monks -- 4. Parallel Congregations -- 5. The Asian-Immigrant Congregation -- 6. The American-Convert Congregation -- 7. Americanization -- Appendix: Immigrant Theravada Buddhist Temples in the United States
Summary In the author's view, these Theravada case studies underline the complexity of the present Americanization process. By examining the intersection of two important trends - the steady growth of Asian immigration and an increasing indigenous interest in new religious movements, especially those of Asian origin - this book points to some fascinating new directions for the study of religious and cultural diversity in the United States
Focusing on two well-established institutions - one in Chicago, the other in Los Angeles - Old Wisdom in the New World is the first systematic examination of the growing presence of Theravada Buddhist temples in the United States. Paul David Numrich's socio-historical analysis highlights a number of classic Americanization themes of establishment, growth, and adaptation. These have surfaced, the author shows, in debates over the retention of Old World culture and language, the "problem" of the second generation, and the role of the laity in religious institutions. Going beyond such familiar themes, Numrich also uncovers the intriguing phenomenon of ethnically defined "parallel congregations" in these temples, as he reveals the ways in which Asian-immigrant Buddhists and American converts pursue substantively different expressions of the Theravada tradition under the direction of a shared clerical leadership, the resident monks
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages [155]-176) and index
Subject Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara (Los Angeles) -- History
Wat Dhammaram (Chicago, Ill.) -- History.
Theravāda Buddhism -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
LC no. 95004361
ISBN 087049905X (cl. : alk. paper)