Participant Observation of Buddhism

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Bridget O’Connor Anthropology of Religion 3348 1.) Chung Mei Buddhist Temple in Stafford, Texas One of the most wide practicing religions in the world, Buddhism has been offering tips to blissful enlightenment for centuries. Those seeking a peaceful lifestyle without ignorance, jealousy and anger can find themselves welcomed at Chung Mei Buddhist Temple, which luckily for me is just a few short minutes from my house. Unfortunately I suffer from social anxiety and found myself contemplating many negative outcomes before I even stepped foot into the Temple – what if they judge me, think I’m stupid, turn me away, etc.? However, when I finally came to dispel my fears I discovered none of this. The congregation is incredibly welcoming. Chung Mei Temple is a practicing Mahayana branch of Buddhism. Grand Master Hsing Yun who first established the temple has ancestry in Taiwan and thus the ritual is carried out in Chinese and so English translation was provided. A woman helped my sister and I follow along with the chants, a man later translated a nun’s discussion of a documentary we watched, and, in addition, another woman bought us some sandwiches and fruit tea, which I must say was delicious, in the Tea Room. Upon attending the weekly chanting service – held every Sunday at 10:30am – I must record my observations of the ritual itself. When first entering the Temple, an attendee will see three doors. Opening into the Main Shrine room, there are three gold-plated statues of Buddhas. In the center is Lord Śākyamuni Buddha, the Great Teacher of Buddhism. The others flank either side of him – the one on the right is the Medicine Buddha and to the left is the Amitabha Buddha. Food offerings are placed in front of these statues. There are rows of benches facing towards these figures and as the congregation slowly piles in they enter into the side doors and take

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