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| Sunday, 12 May 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Buddhism in the Bible Belt
The long felt need for a Buddhist place of worship in the Bible Belt that straddles north and south Carolina, was realised with the establishment of the Carolina Buddhist Vihara recently. Headed by Ven. Dhammaloka Thera, of the New York Buddhist Vihara the Carolina Vihara was made possible through a donation of land and a house by Sri Lankan couple Kumara and Mallika Wijeyawickrema. Work on the Vihara project began in December 2000, and today it offers Dhamma discussions, meditation session, monthly Poya Programs and a whole host of religious activities for Sri Lankans, Americans and other nationalities, both young and old.
Ven. Jagaradhamma Thera, an American Buddhist Bhikkhu writes about the Carolina Vihara and his experience as a Buddhist Monk, in a country where Buddhism is still deemed a relative newcomer. "An American Buddhist Bhikkhu at the Carolina Buddhist Vihara....This lays the groundwork from some interesting observations, for Buddhism is still a novelty to many Americans. The country already has a number of religions that are hundreds of years old, but Buddhism is still deemed the new religion in town. Distinctive There are a few American Buddhist Monks in the USA, but virtually no Americans running Buddhist Viharas. Interestingly, Sri Lankans are also the most recent Asian people to migrate to the USA. And also there aren't many of them in the country. So a Buddhist Vihara and an American Buddhist Monk makes an interesting tale. The news of a Vihara in South Carolina came as a surprise to me, because South Carolina is in the Bible Belt and there are no other Viharas there. The people of Carolina would not know what a Vihara is either. To them it would be something totally alien. I wondered how a Buddhist Vihara in a place like South Carolina would survive. Would it have enough supporters? Would the people be interested in a new religion? Would the good citizens of Carolina at least be curious? Also there aren't many Sri Lankans there. And here I was, Monk in a place where there are no American Buddhist Monks. So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the Vihara and discovered pleasant reality. Barely one year old, the Vihara is in fact a small house located in a nice, quiet suburb. It has a front and a back year ringed by rich greenery. Bird sounds fill the air; the air is clear and you can watch the sky day and night. The Vihara is located in a flat area with lots of red clay. Amazing However it wasn't the environment or nature that surprised me, but the number of people who were at the Vihara. And most were Americans. They told me how delighted they were to discover a Buddhist Vihara with monks who spoke English, in a place like South Carolina. No one thought there'd be a Vihara here, they said. As listed in the Internet, the entire state of Carolina has only three other place of Buddhist worship, and only one of them and an English speaking Monk. The others have only lay people. So Americans and other nationalities come to the Carolina Vihara from all corners of this state. It is a small place and can seat only about 20 people (on cushions). But sometimes, we don't have space to seat everyone. I think of this as an amazing good start for a Vihara that only about a year old. Other Viharas that I know of in the USA, have to wait for year to get even 10 people to attend. But people who come to the Carolina Vihara get an extra delight as Ven. Dhammaloka Thera has painted the Shrine Room with beautiful Buddhist scenes. People how come to the Vihara never fail to express their appreciation and even awe at the sceneries. It is a good start, both for me and the Vihara, in a place where there has never been a Buddhist Vihara before. Sukhi Hoti! For more information on the Carolina Vihara access its website - www.scbv.org . |
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