Westward Bound
In 1893, the first formal gathering of representatives from the world's religions — both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions — was held in Chicago. It was called the Parliament of the World's Religions and is seen today to be the foundation of the continuing formal dialogue between the world's religions.
That year in Chicago, Zen master Soyen Shaku spoke for the first time on Western shores. It wasn't until after World War II, however, that Zen attracted a readership in the West. More than any other figure in history, D. T. Suzuki, Soyen Shakyu's student, is credited with opening the West to Buddhism with his writings on Zen. Suzuki communicated to Westerners the experiential aspect of Zen and explained Zen in a way that left Westerners hungry for more.
In the 1950s the Beat Generation brought a new crowd of Zen enthusiasts, with an experimental nature and generous outlook. Soon, Zen centers spread all over the country, and Zen took root. Buddhism, in all its forms, has gained popularity in Europe, Russia, Australia, Canada, and South America. Westerners fighting wars in Asia in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam brought back interests in things Asian, including Buddhism. After the Holocaust, Jews were disillusioned and many could not find comfort or the answers they were seeking in the synagogue. Buddhism provided an attractive alternative and many of American dharma teachers are Jewish, while Jews only comprise a small percentage of the population.
Many of the poets and writers of the Beat Generation were Buddhists, such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Kenneth Rexroth, Gary Snyder, and Anne Waldman. Jack Kerouac wrote a book entitled Wake Up: A Life of the Buddha.
Political unrest in Asia has become a boon for Western Buddhism. His Holiness the Dalai Lama left isolated Tibet and entered the world stage, exposing countless millions to the colorful pageantry and deep wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. S. N. Goenka left Burma and found a worldwide audience for his teaching of vipassana. Tich Nhat Hanh, one of the most popular and revered Buddhist authors and teachers, came into the public eye during his protests of the war in his native Vietnam. Asian immigrants also contributed to the rise in Buddhism, such as the Chinese establishing Buddhist temples in San Francisco during the gold rush.
