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Rick Winfrey, Wichita junior, meditates for 45 minutes every morning in a peacefully bare room in his Lawrence home. Winfrey says he likes the analogy Tibetan high lama Mingyur Rinpoce made last month comparing meditation to the desire for complete relaxation one has after finishing a marathon. "Just to completely relax like that is what meditation is," he said.
"My guess is that those-elements that are more directly tied to commercialism will eventually fade away into memory more quickly and more easily than those elements of Asian culture that are expressed in more basic and more pure ways," says Le, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, visiting assistant professor.
As Americans continue to incorporate Asian influences into their culture, they need not group Asian Americans into stereotypes that are phony or discriminatory. Le says. Not all Asians know kung fu and not all speak with an Asian accent. Americans should realize that the Asian elements seen in America are only a small part of larger whole and not representational of the entire Asian population and culture. "There needs to be a balance between promoting Asian culture just for the sake of increased exposure and popularity and on the other, making sure that it's completely authentic and acceptable to us," says Le in his 2003 article Asian Cultural Icons Hot or Not?
Next time you meditate or look for your natural bed position, don't do it ignorantly. Educate yourself and make sure to understand the underlying roots behind foreign influences such as Buddhism, Feng Shui, yoga, Chinese characters and sushi.
The Buddhist Path
Buddhism is a way to see oneself at one's most basic level, free from materialism and feelings of distinction, says Winfrey. That desire to improve our inner-
Rick Winfrey didn't always practice Buddhism. He once dabbled in Christianity and freshmen partying, but found neither satisfying. He wasn't happy and his life felt empty. That is when Winfrey turned to Tibetan Karma Kagyu Buddhism, a school that cherishes meditation. "I feel myself changing in a direction that I can feel good about," Winfrey, Wichita junior, says. "I feel much more comfortable with myself and trusting my natural inclinations even in times when it isn't the socially right thing to do or most accepted."
beings is the drawing factor in the growing interest in Buddhism. Americans perceive the traditions as a path to understanding, fulfillment, peace and transformation.
"In recent years, new elements of Asian culture almost always are tied to some form of commercialism and consumerism."
Americans shouldn't make the mistake of lumping Buddhism into a uniformed category, Stevenson says. The ideas are tremendously diverse, as are different Christianity sects, and they're seen
-C.N. Le, author of Asian Nation
throughout the entire continent of Asia. "What we're getting in the United States is a piece-meal," says Daniel Stevenson, University of Kansas' associate professor of religious studies. "We've absorbed a bit of each of them."
Buddhist schools agree that a fundamental principle of Buddhism is to free oneself of a painful existence by ridding oneself of greed, anger and diluted thinking (egoism). The aim is to remove suffering and bring peace to others through active self-discipline. "It just feels so great to be a part of something which focuses on eliminating suffering for all beings," says Winfrey. "It has changed what I desire, how I perceive myself, others and the world around me. It has made me aware of the process called change."
Finding harmony in your life can be as
Feng Shui Fever
simple as creating a space that is natural and inspiring to you through the principles of Feng Shui. One simple way to achieve this is to find the natural place for your bed by clearing the room and finding the one spot that just feels right. But this spot should not be beneath a toilet in the room above or below exposed beams.The bed should be against a wall for head support and in prominent position, within sight of but not aligned with the bedroom door.Hmmm.Maybe it's not as simple as it first seems.
The principle behind Feng Shui is to understand how the spaces we inhabit influence our lives. By arranging the environment so that it is free from negative energy, you omit chaos and clutter. Your focus switches channels and you
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