Week 10 - Finale

What’s up!!! We’re finally at the end of our senior project journey. It’s been a long ten weeks, and yet the time passes so quickly once you look back from the finish line. Over the course of these months, as I’ve visited and observed temples, taken dozens of photos, and talked to monks, I feel that I’ve gained a better understanding of the state of Buddhism in the Bay Area and beyond. One common theme of the practice of Buddhism in the US was the cultural disconnect between generations, which I brought up in a previous post. From the language barrier, to a lack of interest in following a religion relatively uncommon in this country, many second-generation Asian immigrants do not hold as strong of religious beliefs as their parents and ancestors. Something else I took note of was the overall attitude towards religion, particularly Buddhism, in the Bay Area and in China (and Asia): in Asia, Buddhism is viewed as familiar, foundational, and traditional, while in Western spheres it is seen as progressive, new-age, possibly even “woke”.

Overall, conducting this research was an enlightening experience and I’m grateful that I got the chance to study Buddhism’s place in our culture today. Religion is such a broad yet nuanced topic to tackle, with so many different facets and angles, and this project has inspired me to continue looking into religious studies, as spirituality is such a fascinating aspect of human culture that has shaped the course of history over centuries and millennia.

Thank you all for reading, and goodbye!