Report: Buddhism's Flexibility, Emphasis on Responsibility, Serenity Drawing Converts

Monday, May. 11, 2009 Posted: 8:44:29PM HKT

The most recent census statistics show that Buddhism has made greater shifts in reaching the young, English-educated generation than any other religion. A Straits Times special report on Singapore's largest and fastest growing religion attributed this to three main reasons.

"It is reason-based, allows questioning and encourages one to think of the consequences of one's actions," concluded ST senior writer Wong Kim Hoh. “That’s what many young people like about Buddhism, which is attracting the most number of converts in Singapore.”

Figures show that between 1990 and 2000 the number of people aged 15 and over who are Buddhists leapt from 31 percent to 43 percent, or 1.1 million people. There was also a fourfold jump in the number of Buddhists who were graduates.

This is in stark contrast to the other religions. Christianity increased by two percent from 13 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2000. Islam and Hinduism remained relatively unchanged while Taoism registered a significant drop from 22 percent to nine percent in the same period.

Buddhism’s flexibility got the most votes. “There is no pressure to conform. It’s a reason-based philosophy and is logical. You can question and still be yourself,” said anaesthetist Kenneth Tan.

“Young people don’t like things shoved down their throats,” added Dr Tan, a founder member of the Medical Dhamma Circle at National University of Singapore. Venerable Bodhi of the Pao Kwan Foh Tang in Thomson Road agreed.

Rather, Buddhist leaders like Venerable Bodhi consciously help people apply the religion into their own daily lives.

“With teenagers, we show how Buddhist teachings on sexuality and relationships can apply to their life,” said the nun, who has a doctorate in Buddhism from Kelaniya University in Sri Lanka and conducts a Bachelor of Arts in Buddhism programme at the Buddhist Library Graduate School and is also adviser to the Singapore Buddhist Mission Youth Group.

“With working adults, we teach them how to incorporate Buddhism into their professional lives, staying competitive without being cruel and cold. And, for the rest, we teach them the meaning of the scriptures and how to practice it in everyday life. We try to be as relevant as possible.”

An effort to introduce more culturally relevant methods of study and worship including a more modern style of worship, user-friendly, Internet-age approaches to teach the dhamma or Buddhist teachings, a dramatic shift from rituals and customs to the study of the scriptures as well as core Buddhist practices such as meditation, a new breed of English-speaking Buddhist teachers conversant with PowerPoint presentations and Adobe and bookstores that stock Buddhist titles written in English in the hundreds have all borne fruit.

An American monk translated the sutras into English and they have gone on the web. He also has a popular lecture series that can be downloaded from the internet, according to Mrs Angie Monksfield, president of the Buddhist Fellowship. Many temples have their own website and youth division, with activities ranging from lifestyle talks, movie screenings and music performances to dhamma courses.

These developments have served to attract many professionals to the religion. The BF had a membership of 50 in 1999, but now boasts more than 3,000 members, many of whom are doctors, senior executives and company directors.

It also organises talks by Western Buddhist monks, one of whose talks, held at various locations such as the Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yam Road and Kong Meng San in Thomson Road, attracts up to 2,000 people each time.

Furthermore Buddhism’s emphasis on meditation and inner serenity has drawn those increasingly stressed by modern living. As a case in point, BF started conducting a meditation group at Fort Canning each month with about five people – it has since grown to as many as 100 attendants. Buddhist temples and nunneries all over the island have also reported more people attending their meditation classes and clinics.

Nathanael Ng
nathanael@christianpost.com