Blue Jean Buddhists

By Dan Fisher, WireTap. Posted October 23, 2001.

Photos by Jason Bedient

The "Information Age" has brought Buddhism -- in living color and intricate detail -- to the attention of many in today's younger generations.

"We've reached a critical mass," says John Hocevar, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, an international activist organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Tibetan liberation cause among students. "I don't see this interest going away any time soon. There is certainly no slowing. We have requests to register two or three new SFT chapters every day."

Naropa University, located in Boulder, Colorado, is one of two colleges in America founded on Buddhist-inspired principles of education (the other is Soka University in California). Peter Volz, the director of study abroad programs there, notes a trend toward Asian travel.

"We're filling our programs in Asia for both semesters early," he says."The immediate, hard numbers as far as participation in and application for study abroad in Asia demonstrate a tremendous interest,"

"It used to be that you had to travel to learn about Buddhism. Now we have Barnes & Noble," says Jeff Wilson, the author of the recent book The Buddhist Guide to New York and a columnist for Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. As a journalist, Buddhist practitioner, and twenty-something himself, Wilson has quite a bit to say on the places where Buddhism and American youth culture intersect. "All of these resources have a double effect," he continued. "They make people want to travel, but because of them people don't have to."

	"With the infiltration of Buddhism into popular culture, there are also more people coming into Buddhism with false notions of mysticism and inner peace."

Wilson adds: "There is a big pop culture influence on the interest in Buddhism."

In the age of Eminem, Scary Movie 2, instant messenger, and "Survivor," the sustained interest in buddhism among young people today is somewhat surprising. Most philosophy, let alone a 2,500-year-old faith tradition can be tough sells among the 15-25 age bracket. But some draw a connection between young people's growing interest in Buddhism and the general popularity of the "East." Time Magazine, for example, recently devoted an entire cover story to yoga's movement from New Age sensation to American health fixture. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix, with it's Eastern-inspired philosophical core, both attracted millions of viewers. And more and more, advertisements call upon Asian images of serenity and wisdom to sell products as vast and varied as computers, candy, and jeans. And thanks to super-stars like Madonna, it is not uncommon to see kids today sporting bindhis and wearing prayer beads.

But some celebrity involvement does seem to reflect a genuine shift in the way Buddhism can fit into and American lifestyle. Actor Richard Gere is a long-time Tibetan Buddhist practitioner and the Beastie Boys started the Milarepa Fund -- the driving force behind the highly successful Tibetan Freedom Concerts of the last few years.

Regardless of the source of some young people's interest in Buddhism, Wilson is quick to mention that their involvement tends to fall along a pretty broad spectrum."There are people who are deeply committed, there are people who have some connection, and then there are the people who go to a concert or meet a lama and think that they're a Buddhist," he says

But, as Hocevar points out: "It's not always a casual, TV-watching experience. There are quite a few university and high school students who are serious in their Buddhist practice."

I was first drawn to Buddhism during my freshman year of college. At the time, I was experiencing a somewhat unexpected malaise. I desperately wanted to feel good and live my life good, but I didn't know how. What I did know was that I aspired to the same secure and selfless happiness that I sensed most strongly in His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

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