American Buddhist Movement

By Abdel_A

  • Buddhism Arrives with Immigrants

    Chinese immigrants bring Buddhism to the U.S. during the California Gold Rush.
    1853: The first Buddhist temple in the U.S. is built in San Francisco.
    1889: The first Japanese Buddhist temple (Jōdo Shinshū) is established in Hawaii.

  • 1893: The World's Parliament of Religions

    Anagarika Dharmapala (Sri Lankan Theravāda) and Soyen Shaku (Japanese Zen) introduce Buddhism to a Western audience in Chicago. This event sparks American interest in Buddhist philosophy.

  • 1922–1934: Early Buddhist Study Groups

    1922: The Buddhist Churches of America is founded to support Japanese-American Buddhists.
    1934: The first Theravāda Buddhist temple in the U.S. is established in Los Angeles.

  • 1950s–1960s: The Beat Generation and Counterculture Influence

    1951: D.T. Suzuki publishes Zen Buddhism and Its Influence on Japanese Culture, sparking Western fascination with Zen.
    1956: Alan Watts publishes The Way of Zen, making Buddhist ideas more accessible to Americans.
    1959: The Dalai Lama flees Tibet after the Chinese invasion, bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West.
    1965: Immigration and Nationality Act lifts quotas, allowing more Asian Buddhist teachers to enter the U.S.

  • 1970s–1980s: Institutional Growth and Meditation Centers

    1975: The Insight Meditation Society (IMS) is founded by Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, and Joseph Goldstein, promoting Theravāda-based Vipassana meditation.
    1979: Jon Kabat-Zinn develops Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), integrating Buddhist practices with Western medicine.
    1987: Thich Nhat Hanh popularizes Engaged Buddhism, combining mindfulness with activism.

  • 1990s–2000s: The Mindfulness Boom

    1993: The Dalai Lama publishes The Art of Happiness, bringing Tibetan Buddhist philosophy to a mass audience.
    2005: The Mind and Life Institute collaborates with neuroscientists to study meditation's effects on the brain.
    2009: Meditation apps like Headspace and Calm launch, making Buddhist practices more mainstream.

  • 2010s–Present: Digital Buddhism and Social Activism

    2015: Black, feminist, and LGBTQ+ Buddhist communities grow, addressing social justice within Buddhism.
    2020: Online meditation retreats increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Present: American Buddhism continues evolving, focusing on inclusivity, racial justice, and mental health.