Last summer I asked my college students in Anthropology 1, aside from learning anthropological concepts and theories inside the classroom - to explore places, experience cultural happenings, and then apply their learning through writing ethnographic accounts using the method of participation-observation.
I am posting in my blog with the writer's consent selected ethnography penned creatively by my students to contribute to the emerging sub-discipline of anthropology called 'Virtual Ethnography'.
Basically, virtually ethnography is also referred to as Webnography. We cannot deny the fact that with increasing use of technology and the Internet, there is now a demand for online spaces on various ethnographic accounts.
Ethnography By Seth Yao
A Disclaimer of Sorts
Given both my family and personal background, I have found the religion of Buddhism very enticing. There are many specific and biased reasons for this but I will go through the more rational ones. To put all this simply, I will try to compare and contrast a Buddhist temple with a Catholic church since this is most familiar to me.
Façade
The Catholic Church is basically an oversized house, a sanctuary to all people, in principle, that is. The church designs vary from the Rock Church in Norway, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, to the Notre Dame in Paris. For the most part, these churches and cathedrals tend to come in different shapes and sizes since the Medieval and Renaissance bourgeoisie competed amongst themselves to prove whose local church was the most magnificent at that time. This is not unfamiliar to our culture, where the grandest festivals and church ceremonies are sought after throughout the nation.
The Buddhist temple is often very simple. It has taken many forms such as the stupa, pagoda, or even a giant bronze statue of Buddha sometimes, but the idea is to be in harmony with the universe, not to be fixated on worldly things but on the path to enlightenment. The idea behind this is to inspire inner and outer peace.
Purpose
The church is sacred place for Catholics. This is where they celebrate most of their religious milestones like baptism, confirmation, marriage, and for some people, their wake when they have passed away.
The Buddhist temple is not so much a sacred ground as it is a silent retreat, a kind of religious coffee shop. The point of going to a Buddhist temple is to find peace within oneself and meditate along with a community that tries to accomplish the same thing. This way, the environment is conducive to focus and detachment from the world.
Décor
Given the history of the Catholic Church as a medium of colonization, colonizers tended to preach to aboriginal people in a language not understood by the locals. Instead of paying attention to the priest or friar, these people focus their attention on the colorful stained glass windows, statues, and paintings covering every inch of the structure. This is why churches tend to be vibrant and ornate inside.
Buddhist temples are the exact opposite of these churches. As much as possible, there is nothing stimulating inside the temple. The objective is to facilitate the people’s overcoming of sensual desire and excitement, to rid oneself of extreme joy and depression. Instead, a relaxed sense of neutrality is achieved, a step closer to enlightenment. Aside from the cushion or pillows meant for kneeling, sitting, the full lotus position and such, the temple is bare.
Environment
In a church at any time, there is most probably a distinct din of murmuring, of people talking, praying, begging, gossiping, and asking for forgiveness. At certain times there are melodies coming from Christmas carolers or the church of choir. Then passages, rejoice, repent, and make promises to God.
In a Buddhist temple, there is mostly silence, accompanied by the sound of heavy breathing as people clear their minds and focus on nothing but their breathing. Sometimes there is music playing not dissimilar to those often heard in spas; in both instances, this is done to help people relax. Other than that, barely anything else is heard.
A view from the ground
I experienced and observed all these things myself. I grew up a Catholic. From weddings in Manila Cathedral to tours in the Sistine chapel in Vatican City, I have had my fair share of Catholic churches. These are vibrant, sacred, solemnly prayerful places where different people plead their own cases to their magnanimous God. Being mostly Chinese, I have visited a lot of Buddhist temples in my time as well. From pagodas to giant bronze Buddha statues and modern monasteries (like the Ocean Sky Chan Monastery), I have noted how the world is suddenly left behind as I step over the threshold into a Buddhist temple. Children wonder at the instantaneous serenity in their environment but other than their wide eyes and slack jaws, the peace is maintained. This ethnography is not an attack on the Catholic Church or an attempt to proselytize for Buddhism; it is merely the musing of a curious traveler and scholar.
Parting thoughts
Like most ideologies, the two religions discussed here have been twisted and transformed throughout centuries; such is the nature of most things and like the philosophies that have evolved, their place of worship or religious practice has changed as well. The once hidden and plain houses for worship turned into magnificent cathedrals spread throughout the entire world, inspiring awe and for some people, spiritual distraction. From my travels, I have witnessed all sorts of grand cathedrals like the ones I have already mentioned from France and Italy, not to mention the great Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square.
For Buddhism, however, the unimposing stupas that Siddharta Gautama’s followers meditated around have spanned a vast continent and even most of the world and became pagodas, monasteries, and, like I said, a giant bronze statue of Buddha (found in Korea). These are havens for the disturbed soul rushed through hectic city streets and swept through rushing traffic; in these places they find their way back to their path to enlightenment and overcoming the suffering that is intrinsic to human life.
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