The Buddha Has Landed!
Buddhism In America
Location: Blue Hill Public Library, Howard Room
Facilitator: Philip Osgood
Since the time of the historical Buddha, some 2500 years ago, Buddhism has migrated through diverse Asian cultures. And now, here in the United States, there has been a dramatic upsurge of interest in Buddhism over the last 60 years. This colloquy will focus on Buddhism less as a religion and more as a contemplative practice and philosophy that has been readily adopted and adapted by modern Americans. We will examine the basic tenets of the Buddha’s teachings and explore the three main expressions of Buddhist meditation practice that have landed in America: Vipassana, Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. We will discuss how our contemporary culture is already influencing the formation of a new and unique expression of an ancient tradition.
Philip Osgood lives in Brooksville. He is a freelance writer and writing teacher and has been a Buddhist practitioner for 3 decades with experience in the Vipassana, Zen and Tibetan traditions. Philip leads workshops and retreats in meditation practices with the Foundation for Active Compassion.
Recommended Reading Material:Philip has left photocopies of “Buddhism in a Nutshell” excerpted from Ken McLeod’s book Wake Up To Your Life at the Reference desk in the Blue Hill Library and hopes that all participants will take the time to read this excerpt before the start of the Colloquy.He also requests that participants consider reading at least one of the following books:
Seeking the Heart of Wisdom by Joseph Goldstein & Jack Kornfield
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice by Thich Thien-An
The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
The Myth of Freedom; and the Way of Meditation by Chogyam Trungpa
An Open Heart; Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life by The Dalai Lama
