what are some challenges for Buddhism in modern times?

Answer 1

The biggest challenge of Buddhism is that it is an empty philosophy unable to provide its believer with practical solutions to spiritual void and answers to fundamental questions of life.

Answer 2

It depends on where you stand. Buddhism in Asia in general needs to adapt to the growing tendency of individualiztion at a personal level especially in childhood and adolescence. One may need to let go more than develop and construct when she enters adulthood or old age, but if a child is brought up overwhelmed with teachings of impermance and non-attachment and emptiness, psychologically at least, it does not seem to be good for a healthy development in terms of personal and occupational functioning.

In the West, where Buddhism has not been around long enough, the challenge, I believe, is first and foremost, to encourage serious teachers, scholars and practitioners to read as much as they can of the works in different denominations and lineages. One should understand Buddhism has far far far more scriptures than just one Holy Book as in the Western monotheistic religions. The Chinese Canon of Buddhism, the largest of the three (the other being the Pali Canon and the Tibetan Canon) has one hundred volumes (each the size of Encylopedia Britanica). Without delving into the sea of the original Tripitaka, in the West we hear mostly the Madhyamika philosophy by Nargarjuna (popularly known as the proposition of empitness). Few people know that there is an antithesis of Yogocara or Vijnanpada to Madhymika. The Buddha-nature theory goes even farther to counter the radical emptiness philosophy. Indeed "emptiness' itself in Mahayana Buddhism seldom goes without teaching "wondrful existence or being of suchness".

Relativism, especially moral relativism, might be another challenge to Buddhism. Given the West is already heading into the post-modern times, which embraces in a way such relativism rather than a dichotomy of right and wrong, the challege might be bigger in the West than in Aisa where Buddhism is still very much worshiped as a religion ras well as a philosophy and technology for health or well being. Vipassana seems favored over Zen and Tibetan Buddhism manily because, it srtikes me, it is looked at as netural way of processing the mind and that no transcendental states or spiritual transformation need to be at the center of pracitce.

My stomach is empty and need to go stuff it. :)

Answer 3

Buddhism of course has been cultivated for centuries in Asia. One challenge is simply translating its cultural forms of practice and the expressions of its teachings into contemporary forms.

The Vipassana Buddhists are in my opinion doing an especially effective job of finding culturally sensitive ways of incorporating essential Buddhist understandings for Westerners. Zen communities and Tibetan Buddhist schools have done very impressive work, too, though their communities tend still to look kind of "exotic" to others unfamiliar with the practices.

The greatest challenge of all, of course, is the very subtlety and simplicity of the experience that is its core. It is so extremely easy for those who have little insight or sensitivity to begin with to presume there's nothing of value to it.

... But that can be said of any of the world's most profound psychological and spiritual realizations.
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Answer 4

I think it is the same challenge that has always existed. When a "Buddha" is fully awakened and realizes the ultimate truth, he supposedly ends for himself the suffering which unawakened people experience in life.

But that is contrary to our nature. Buddhism is a false escapism. Suffering is part of the human condition. It should be embraced and offered up for spiritual benefits - not denied.

Buddhism is like going through life hypnotized. One must see pain and suffering and say "it is not there." This is a denial of reality and a denial of what makes us human. Life must be lived FULLY - that includes the pain and the pleasure.

Answer 5

The mis-interpretation of the Buddhist Philosophy to suit the times and to compromise the meaning of the original preachings/speeches to suit our life-style.

Answer 6

war

Answer 7

too much material things!!