Rent Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists

Synopsis

A must-read for modern sanghas-Buddhists in their own words, on their own terms, More than two-thirds of U.S. Buddhists are Asian American. But you'd never guess this from mainstream representations, which all too often whitewash and invisibilize the diverse, inclusive, and intersectional communities that make up American Buddhism. Be the Refuge is both critique and celebration, countering the erasure of Asian American Buddhists while uplifting the complexity and nuance of their authentic stories and experiences. The Oriental monk, the superstitious immigrant, the banana Buddhist: dissatisfied with these tired, essentialized tropes, Han asks, Will the real Asian American Buddhists please stand up? Her journey to answer this question led to in-depth interviews with a pan-ethnic, pan-Buddhist group of 89 young adults. This book centers young Asian American Buddhists' own voices, with insights from multigenerational, second-generation, convert, and socially engaged Asian American Buddhists. It includes the stories of trailblazers, bridge-builders, integrators, and refuge-makers who hail from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. Encouraging frank conversations about race, representation, and inclusivity among Buddhists of all backgrounds, Be the Refuge embodies the spirit of interconnection that glows at the heart of American Buddhism.

View descriptions at Amazon.com