America, Buddhism, and Individualism

Inspired by a Dharma Talk at the BCA National Council Meeting, Rev. Harry starts us off by suggesting that individualism is a point of contact between Buddhism and American culture. This seems somewhat counterintuitive given that individuality seems at odds with Buddhist ideas of interdependence, no-self, or non-attachment to the ego. But we think there may be a way for Buddhist notions of individualism to engage in dialogue with American ones while finding a balance between a complete denial of the self and egocentric narcism. This conversations takes us into Shin Buddhist philosophy, the Tannisho, and brings us back to Yogacara conceptions of reality itself.