Buddhism: It's not as nice as you might believe

Douglas Todd (Vancouver Sun)

(Reuters/Vancouver Sun)

As the Eastern faith grows in Canada, it shows itself to be as vulnerable to factionalism, status-seeking, and hierarchies as Western religions. Contributors to the book Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada estimate the number of Buddhists in Canada will reach 600,000 by the 2011 census. Only about 15 to 25 per cent of Buddhists in Canada are "Western" converts. What's a "nice" religion like Buddhism doing in a rotten place like Canada? Very well, thank you. And that's despite the many suggestions from a new book that self-satisfied "Western" people stereotype and act condescendingly toward Buddhists from Asia. I'm exaggerating the extent of Canada-bashing that occurs in the new book, Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada (McGill-Queen's University Press)... More>>

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