Contradicting Classification: Debating Definitions of American Buddhist Identities
(University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
The study of American Buddhism is often evaluated through a binary standard, categorizing participants as either “Ethnic” Asian-born members practicing forms of Buddhism native to their country of origin, or “Convert” American-born, typically Caucasian, members practicing an adapted form of Buddhism emphasizing meditation. This paper presents a case study which challenges these narrow classifications and accentuates the flexibility of self-identity with Buddhist practitioners who do not fit these molds. This study introduces the complex Buddhist identities of an interracial couple: A Thai woman who converted to a non-native form of Japanese Buddhism, Soka Gakai International, many years after her immigration to the United States; and her American husband who, being raised Catholic, denounced his religious upbringing and began engaging in spiritual practices ranging from Native American ceremonial rituals, Chinese Tai Chi, and meditation at a Thai Buddhist monastery. Accented are their continually changing beliefs and practices, as well as the layers of their identities, influenced by concepts of Americanness. Intensive interviews and observations uncovered an intricate self-perception of identity, where participants mediate varying aspects of their identities to correspond with certain social circumstances. This research illustrates how important it is to recognize the flexibility and hybridity of self-identity, instead of fixed divisions, as it provides a better understanding of the variation in American Buddhist practices and identities.