'Sangha, Diversity and "Race": Multiculturalism in Western Buddhist Convert Sanghas in East London'

 Sharon Smith, Goldsmiths’ College, University of London

Abstract

In Western Buddhist movements where most have converted to Buddhism (Western Buddhist convert sanghas), only a small minority are black people/people of colour (here people of African, Asian and Caribbean descent).  Sōka Gakkai International (SGI) is the sole exception to this trend in having a highly multiethnic and multicultural following.  So far however, this has received little consideration in the developing body of work on Western Buddhism.

The paper outlines and compares findings from two ethnographic case studies of branches of Western Buddhist convert sanghas based in the highly diverse area of East London.  Nationally, these groups are two of the largest Western Buddhist convert sanghas in the UK: Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO) and SGI.

The research methodology draws on the insights of feminist epistemologists.  Ways in which these are proving helpful because of their potential to explore positioning as an insider/outsider (e.g. as an African/Caribbean lesbian Buddhist researcher), differing gender/sexuality as well as ethnic membership profiles of the two movements and key themes for this study of "race", ethnicity, identity and "difference" are also discussed.

Overall therefore the research explores "race", ethnic, gender and class identities in relation to the development of religious identities, particularly Buddhist ones.  It also considers ideas of "difference" and multiculturalism and their implications for faith communities in general, and the processes by which spaces that are meant to be available to all “Westerners” develop (or don’t!) into ones where whiteness and being middle-class become hegemonic.