Power to the (Lay) People

In 21st Century America, meditation is almost synonymous with Buddhist practice for both monastics and lay people. It wasn\’t always that way. And still isn\’t in much of the Buddhist world. Meditation en Masse in Tricycle magazine tells the reaction of Buddhists in Burma to colonization by the British around a century ago. The King upheld the Buddhist teachings. With him gone, the whole Buddhist power structure was changed. Several Buddhist teachers opened up meditation practice, and hence enlightenment, to non-monastics. Some government ministers were instrumental in Buddhist practice and teachings. Fascinating bit of history I didn\’t know.