Be the refuge : raising the voices of Asian American Buddhists / Chenxing Han.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Han, Chenxing, 1986- author.

Contributor:

ProQuest ebook central.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhism--United States.

Buddhism.

Asian Americans--Religion.

Asian Americans.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 325 pages.)

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, California : North Atlantic Books, [2021]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

A must-read for modern sanghas--Asian American Buddhists in their own words, on their own terms. A must-read for modern sanghas--Asian American Buddhists in their own words, on their own terms. Despite the fact that two thirds of U.S. Buddhists identify as Asian American, mainstream perceptions about what it means to be Buddhist in America often whitewash and invisibilize the diverse, inclusive, and intersectional communities that lie at the heart of American Buddhism. Be the Refuge is both critique and celebration, calling out the erasure of Asian American Buddhists while uplifting the complexity and nuance of their authentic stories and vital, thriving communities. Drawn from in-depth interviews with a pan-ethnic, pan-Buddhist group, Be the Refuge is the first book to center young Asian American Buddhists' own voices. With insights from multi-generational, second-generation, convert, and socially engaged Asian American Buddhists, Be the Refuge includes the stories of trailblazers, bridge-builders, integrators, and refuge-makers who hail from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. Championing nuanced representation over stale stereotypes, Han and the 89 interviewees in Be the Refuge push back against false narratives like the Oriental monk, the superstitious immigrant, and the banana Buddhist--typecasting that collapses the multivocality of Asian American Buddhists into tired, essentialized tropes. Encouraging frank conversations about race, representation, and inclusivity among Buddhists of all backgrounds, Be the Refuge embodies the spirit of interconnection that glows at the heart of American Buddhism.

Contents:

Introduction. Wondering ; Seeking ; Connecting

Trailblazers. Erasure ; Belonging ; Lineage

Bridge-builders. Gaps ; Reclamation ; Compassion

Integrators. Tension ; Affinity ; Roots

Refuge-makers. Anger ; Privilege ; Solidarity

Benediction

Appendix 1: Questions for other Asian American Buddhists

Appendix 2: Interview questions

Appendix 3: List of interviews

Appendix 4: Interviewee ethnicities

Appendix 5: A diverse group.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Online version: Han, Chenxing, 1986- Be the refuge

ISBN:

9781623175245

1623175240

Publisher Number:

99989077222

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.