How compatible are (Theravada) Buddhism and the Western life?

Householder Jordy van Ekelen, interested,

Right View and the Buddhas original tradition goes totally against modern and western views, so even if tending to right view, it will be hard to practice born and dwell under people with wrong views, thinking in ways or rights and regard all equal.

Gifted therefore who resists on suitable place and if not yet, one should try to build on Upanissaya that one of the main requisites and Maha Mangala would arise for one.

There are less places left in the world where right views, at large are still regarded and not replaced by Marxist or Materialistic Views.

Modern/Western "buddist" communities actually have already addopted those popular views and would be not really able to provide the basics in good manner. But one should not think that in the traditional countries, in the most of them, the tendency is not already modern, western... so hurry up, this traddition is disappearing much more fast as most think, incl. sadly often lead by monks into wrong direction and for the benefits in the world!

Some accounts on it:
To reside in a suitable location... is the highest blessing

(Note that this gift of Dhamma is not dedicated for trade, exchange, stacks or entertainment but as a means to make merits toward release from this wheel)

Some aspects of western life is compatible with Theravada Buddhism, and some are not.

What is not compatible with Theravada Buddhism? Materialism and free consumption of alcohol are prominent examples, and applies to most western countries. But to be honest, materialism applies to most of the world, anyway.

In some western countries (and not all), there may be free consumption of drugs, habitual speaking of untruth (or perhaps, deceptiveness), legalized prostitution, strip clubs and sexual behavior like swapping partners - these are not compatible with Buddhism, because they are either not compatible with the five precepts, or because they are not compatible with Right Livelihood.

What is compatible with Theravada Buddhism? I would say plenty. Much more than what is not compatible.

The Buddhist qualities of charity and compassion are quite compatible with western countries that have a system of social welfare, for e.g. Scandinavian countries.

In some western countries like Germany, people culturally have the quality of being straightforward and truthful, as well as have the tendency to obey the law and rules, even when nobody is watching. This is compatible with the Buddhist precept of speaking the truth and also the Buddhist quality of heedfulness.

In many western countries, people are generally not in favour of superstition, astrology, palmistry, geomancy, divination, identifying astrologically auspicious dates, ceremonial idol worship etc. This is very compatible with Theravada Buddhism (see DN 2). Even some majority Buddhist Asian countries like Thailand and Myanmar fail here.

Many western countries are in favour of the separation of religion and government. This is also compatible with Theravada Buddhism (see DN 2). Again, some majority Buddhist Asian countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka seem to fail here.

Western countries are among the most atheistic countries in the world, with the notable exception of the United States. This too is very much compatible with Theravada Buddhism, but incompatible with Christianity and Judaism.

Many western countries tend to have greater acceptance of sexual orientation diversity, similar to Thailand. This too is in some way more compatible with Buddhism, than say, certain denominations of western Christianity.

Roman Catholicism does not allow women to become priests, and it seems that some Thai monastic orders do not allow women to become nuns. This is not compatible with western culture that tends to favour equal rights for women. The Buddha allowed both men and women to join the monastic order, and did not exclude women from the possibility of becoming arahants. In this way, Theravada Buddhism (based on the Buddha's original teachings) is quite compatible with the western quality of giving equal rights to women.

That said, many of the mentioned Buddhism-compatible qualities of certain western countries can also be found in parts of Asia.

Western life is the complete opposite to any kind of authentinc spiritual path. This comes especially obvious as you become more spiritually advanced. If you want to advance spiritually you need instructions from a quaified teacher and an authentic spiritual culture or community where people practice and live original teachings of Buddha. One of the aspects of Noble Eightfold Path is Right Livelihood.

Even in Asia, you have to leave the lay life, if you are to become a monk. Once you become a monk, your culture doesn't matter. You belong to the Sangha. There are many Theravada Sangha in the world with western origins. Ex: Venerable Yuttadhammo, Venerable Bodhi, Venerable Ajahn Brahm. etc. They are hardly anti-social. Look at how many lay followers they have. You don't have to compromise on Vinaya rules to be a benefit to the society.

Even if you stay as a lay person, you don't have to kill, steal, sexually misbehave, lie or get drunk to be social.

I believe first you need to decide if you want to be a monk or keep as a lay buddhist. If you want to follow the lay buddhist path, there is nothing wrong with the west or our modern life, you just have to keep the 5 preceps, not really complicated.

If you want to become a monk, you just need to join a Sangha and that can be in the east or west, it doesn't make much difference these days if you find a serious place to practice.

Just to complicate a little bit...I used to question myself: If I truly believe in the Buddha why not becoming a monk? It is not the only way, but that was his way, there is clearly something special to be acquired following the Vinaya and everything... so why be satisfied with lay life? it is a hard question, but very, very personal.

In my humble opinion, Buddhism meshes with the nobler aspects of western culture much better than most western religions. Buddhism has a system of ethics for lay people which is based not on appeals to authority but on what leads to true happiness, which is actually identical to the virtue ethics of most ancient Greek schools of philosophy for example, and the Buddha seems to have been a fan of democracy, setting up the Sangha of Monks and Nuns to make decisions by voting in a formal assembly in their communities, and the Buddha even gave a parable which seems to lay out a theory of government based on popular sovereignty in DN 27 ( http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/AggannaSutta.pdf )

On top of it all, Buddhism rejects tradition and scripture as sources of authority, offering people not the all too familiar "Convert or burn in hell" line, but a confident "Don't take our word for it, test the teachings out for yourself!" attitude that fits much better with our much more empirical mindset.

Quite frankly, a lot of the things people point to as being major cultural barriers are quite superficial things like bowing, chanting, and other things which are by their nature supplementary to the teachings anyways.