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Title details for The Star Spangled Buddhist by Jeffrey Ourvan - Available

The Star Spangled Buddhist

Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America

by Jeffrey Ourvan
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Approximately four million Americans claim to be Buddhist. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Americans of various faiths read about Buddhism, are interested in its philosophical tenets, or fashionably view themselves as Buddhists. They're part of what's been described as the fastest-growing religious movement in America: a large group of people dissatisfied with traditional religious offerings and thirsty for an approach to spirituality grounded in logic and consistent with scientific knowledge. The Star Spangled Buddhist is a provocative look at these American Buddhists through their three largest movements in the United States: the Soka Gakkai International, Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism.
The practice of each of these American schools, unlike most traditional Asian Buddhist sects, is grounded in the notion that all people are capable of attaining enlightenment in "this lifetime." But the differences are also profound: the spectrum of philosophical expression among these American Buddhist schools is as varied as that observed between Reformed, Orthodox, and Hasidic Judaism.
The Star Spangled Buddhist isn't written from the perspective of a monk or academic but rather from the view of author Jeff Ourvan, a lifelong-practicing lay Buddhist. As Ourvan explores the American Buddhist movement through its most popular schools, he arrives at a clearer understanding for himself and the reader about what it means to be—and how one might choose to be—a Buddhist in America.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 8, 2019

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781626364394

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781626364394
      • File size: 1055 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 13, 2013
      As Buddhism grows in America, it can be difficult to keep track of the different schools that have penetrated the culture since they began proliferating during the 20th century. Ourvan, a Buddhist practitioner, attorney, and literary agent, offers a succinct but illuminating overview of Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism. Organized in sections by the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha), the book tracks the historical and theoretical development of these three different Buddhist schools, their introduction into American culture, and the way they view their place in our society today. Ourvan’s experience as a Soka Gakkai practitioner testifies to the transformational effect of meditation that increasing numbers have come to know in recent years. This highly informative book is especially suited to the reader who lacks a background in Buddhism, though it is also a satisfying refresher course for anyone with prior knowledge. Agent: Jennifer Lyons, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from August 1, 2013

      Attorney and literary agent Ourvan has written an endearing field guide to the major sects of Buddhism in this country: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai International, in which he himself was a senior leader for a time. At once a slice of memoir and an informal but well-researched history of Buddhism's remarkable and growing success in the United States, Ourvan's brief account touches upon personalities, events, and doctrines. VERDICT An accessible history of modern Buddhism in America, Ourvan's book fills a crucial gap, and deserves to attract many academic and nonacademic readers.

      Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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