Page 41 - EH72

FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 39

For practicing Buddhists of all ages, deepening our people coming back to Buddhism. Whether or not they
understanding of the Dharma will help us better discern take refuge and precepts or become “card-carrying
which aspects of Buddhist traditions and practices are Buddhists” is not the issue. It’s more important that
cultural and can be adapted to support the flourishing people benefit from the Buddha’s teachings and become
of the Dharma, and which aspects are important to better human beings.
preserve because they support our spiritual practice.
For example, young people may ask, why do Buddhists Can you also share some of your current activities to
bow and offer incense and fruits in front of statues? Do attract youths to the Buddha Dharma?
Buddhists pray to Buddha like he is a god? If we don’t
know the answers to these questions, that’s a good At Sravasti Abbey, we run a weeklong program
reason to study and investigate so as to improve our especially for young adults aged 18 to 29, led by
own knowledge and understanding. Venerable Chodron and other senior monastics.
It’s been running every year since the Abbey was
If Asian youths are interested in religion, they are established in 2003, which shows the importance that
more attracted to Christianity which is seen as more Venerable Chodron places on reaching out to young
vibrant, fun, and easier to understand, compared people and offering a safe and supportive space for
to Buddhism which is depicted as serious, abstract, them to learn the Buddha’s teachings and connect with
and even world negating, especially the image of a like-minded people.
monastic who renounced the world? Though this
perception is not true, how can we change it to The program includes daily Dharma talks that Venerable
attract the young? Chodron customizes to the interests of the group,
followed by discussions in the format that I’ve described
I’ve heard Buddhist youth groups in Singapore raise in my response to question two. In the afternoons the
this concern and I don’t think it’s helpful to compare youths offer service alongside the monastics, and rich
Buddhism to Christianity in this way. The purpose of Dharma discussions and bonding take place while
a Buddhist youth group is not to proselytize or attract working outdoors and rolling mantras. Colleges and
an exponential number of youths to join “Our Team” schools in the US also invite our monastics to give talks
so that we can beat the “Other Team.” If we wish to in person and online, which is another platform for us to
draw people to the Buddha’s teachings, the best thing connect with young people. The Abbey also has a strong
we can do is to practice ethical conduct and be kind to online presence, especially on YouTube, so many young
others in our daily lives. That said, I’ve seen Buddhist people find out about us that way.
youth groups offer a broad range of activities to attract
youths with different interests, ranging from school On the topic of online engagement, I was very glad to
holiday camps, to career mentoring, to volunteering in have the opportunity recently to connect with young
the community. I think these are skillful ways to draw people in Singapore and beyond through the Handful
young people in by offering activities that are familiar of Leaves Podcast, which also led to an in-person event.
and relevant to their lives. The founders of the platform are sincere Buddhist
practitioners who are doing good work to bring the
Instead of thinking about how to change the image of Dharma to young people in Asia through their website,
Buddhism, maybe it’s more important to put our energy social media, and in-person events. I enjoy supporting
Buddhist youth groups in whatever way I can! EH
into actively engaging young people who are curious
about or already drawn to Buddhism. We can listen to
their questions and respond to their concerns. If we
can connect them with Buddhist teachings that bring
benefit in their daily lives, which they can turn to when
confusion and difficulties arise, that will keep young