How is that future American Maitreya Buddha, likely to lead,
galvanize and propel American Buddhism into its next
Millennium?
Historically, Buddhism, born out of Hinduism and Yoga traditions in
ancient India, has always tended to absorb native spiritual
tradition and culture of the country to which it arrived. As it
moved East throughout Asia, it merged with Confucianism and Taoism
in China, assimilated shamanism in Tibet and adapted to the Shinto
Samurai culture in Japan.
Similarly, the future of American Buddhism is likely to be shaped
by the entire Western / American culture and its future evolution
in the time to come.
One can anticipate that, by the year 2,500, American Buddhism in
will have assimilated and merged with the following Western
influences:
Democracy contrary to more autocratic, male dominated Asian
model, American Buddhists will embrace more democratic, egalitarian
/ libertarian approach, with man and women practicing together in
centers governed by elective process where the role of a teacher is
separate from the centers administrator. A full spectrum of
training models will develop, from more traditional monastic
institutions to lay centers which are likely to grow in popularity.
The Western appreciation of individuality, democracy and
transparency will result in more horizontal, egalitarian approach
to the interpretation of the Dharma, with multiple, loosely related
lineages and a marketplace of individual preachers.
Paradoxically, this model is likely to resemble the origins of
Buddhism in 600 B.C. India where wondering seekers / monks
gathered only during rain seasons to study and practice in one
place and only to resume their individual/ solitary search
afterwards. An individual hermit / Boddhisatva / preacher model
is likely to emerge, in addition to more organized
Buddhism-as-religion.
Science science in general, and quantum physics
and Unified Theory (when available) will replace Mahayana Buddhism
as the new paradigm for the understanding of the Universe, Mind and
Emptiness. American Buddhism will not only embrace science as the
preferred language of the Dharma but a new, Scientific Buddhism
will emerge as the dominant school of Buddhism not only in the
West but worldwide.
Psychology both Buddhism and psychology endeavor
to alleviate suffering and to grasp the nature of Mind. Psychology
without the Mysterium of spirituality and mysticism is incomplete,
Buddhism without postmodern psychology is naïve. Buddhism will
eventually adopt the language of cognitive neuroscience and
psychology to redefine itself within the Western culture. Insights
of psychology, psychiatry, brain science and psychotherapy will not
only inform any serious spiritual training and practice in the
future but will also permeate the Western interpretation of the
Madhyamika / Yogacara Dharma. Buddhist teachers of the future are
likely to undergo formal training in at least one of the above
disciplines to match ever evolving psychological-mindedness of
their Western practitioners. Seated meditation and mindfulness will
continue as the key elements distinguishing Buddhists practice from
other traditions.
· Language translating Buddhism into the Western
context will impose the English language and its vocabulary on the
Dharma. A complete translation of most of Sanscrit, Chinese,
Tibetan and Japanese texts should be completed within the next 100
years and most of the Buddhist canon will be available to Western
readers in English. Terminology and understanding of particular
terms is likely to evolve to adjust to the usage within the Western
culture. New, original, modern sutras, or Dharma texts, will
appear and gradually replace the old ones. Future, American,
Nagarjuna, Asanga, Milarepa, Hui-Neng, Hakuin and Dogen will
re-write the old texts and create a uniquely English-language
school of Buddhism.
Postmodern / postindustrial culture Buddhism
preceded some ideas typically associated with deconstruction and
postmodernism for over 2,600 years. The lack (emptiness) of the
subject and form, decentralization / multiplicity (Absolute /
Relative) of signification and truth, quantum physics and
interdependent origination all point to inescapable parallels
between Buddhism and the postmodern. The future Buddhism will
continue to evolve within the postmodern Western culture and will
become increasingly permeated by its ideas and values.
Environmentalism and engaged Buddhism will play a significant
role in defining how Buddhists will function in the future global /
local marketplace.
Technology Buddhism will evolve in the
Millennium dominated by science and its applications - technology.
In a few decades we will be able to effectively manipulate our
genetic codes, and hence the life itself, will learn how to control
and change, at will, our states of mind through new advances in
molecular neuropsychopharmacology, and will be able to immerse
ourselves in computerized virtual realities of our choice, leaving
more mundane chores to increasingly more efficacious and
omnipresent artificial intelligence tools and robotic appliances.
Instantaneous visual-audio global access to any information, person
or place anywhere on Earth, via the next generations of the
Internet, will be taken for granted. Biological computers and
ultramicrochip-enhanced biological implants will merge technology
with brain functions, altering cognition, consciousness and the
sense of individual identity. The new American Scientific
Buddhism will emerge to embrace technology as its new Great
Vehicle to ferry all sentient beings to the other shore of
Existence.
Judeo-Christian tradition Buddhism will
assimilate many of the contemporary Judeo-Christian forms of
monastic and lay practice, ranging from the Catholic monastery /
church / priest model to the Episcopalian / Protestant / Baptist
minister / preacher / congregation formats of practice. Buddhism
will continue to struggle with the concept of Judeo-Christian
monotheistic God. Interfaith dialogue(s) will emerge to clarify
basic ideas and to enhance mutual understanding. The concepts of
God and Buddha-Mind, along with neuroscience, will take the center
stage in the multidisciplinary debate on the nature of the mind and
spiritual and religious life.
Global marketplace American Buddhism will
embrace wholesome, not-for-profit entrepreneurial self-sufficiency,
simplicity and non-attachment rather than poverty and asceticism.
Although Buddhism originally developed within tribal / feudal
cultures of ancient India, China and Japan, we are now witnessing
an increasing emphasis on economic self-reliance rather than on
alms-gathering or feudal / government donations and support.
Sophisticated fund raising, students / members fees and small
business ventures are likely to become dominant sources of income
for Buddhist centers in the future. Separation of the spiritual
teaching from the economics, similar to that of church / state in
the society at large, will have to be strictly observed to prevent
perception of exploitation. The issues of property ownership or de
facto property control by teachers, non-attachment vs poverty vs
asceticism will have to be addressed and resolved as a Dharma
question and within the American Sangha to assure integrity, purity
and depth of future practice.
The future is always different from our speculations about it.
However, we know that Buddhism will have to change in its encounter
with the West. The old Theravada / Mahayana tradition will be,
eventually, replaced by a new "school" or paradigm.
Since science and technology, along with democracy and global
marketplace, are the most dominant forces shaping the world today,
the postmodern science will become the next discourse of Buddhism,
not only in the West but worldwide.
That fully autonomous American / Western Scientific Buddhism will
need a teacher, who like others did before, will propel it into the
next Millennia. That person, whoever he/she will be, will find a
way to translate the Dharma into a new language of science,
psychology, cognitive neuroscience and postmodern / postindustrial
culture.
To save all sentient beings, we all need to do our best to make it
happen as soon as possible.
