Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781623175238)

A must-read for modern sanghas--Asian American Buddhists in their own words, on their own terms.

Despite the fact that two thirds of U.S. Buddhists identify as Asian American, mainstream perceptions about what it means to be Buddhist in America often whitewash and invisibilize the diverse, inclusive, and intersectional communities that lie at the heart of American Buddhism.

Be the Refuge is both critique and celebration, calling out the erasure of Asian American Buddhists while uplifting the complexity and nuance of their authentic stories and vital, thriving communities. Drawn from in-depth interviews with a pan-ethnic, pan-Buddhist group, Be the Refuge is the first book to center young Asian American Buddhists' own voices. With insights from multi-generational, second-generation, convert, and socially engaged Asian American Buddhists, Be the Refuge includes the stories of trailblazers, bridge-builders, integrators, and refuge-makers who hail from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds.

Championing nuanced representation over stale stereotypes, Han and the 89 interviewees in Be the Refuge push back against false narratives like the Oriental monk, the superstitious immigrant, and the banana Buddhist--typecasting that collapses the multivocality of Asian American Buddhists into tired, essentialized tropes. Encouraging frank conversations about race, representation, and inclusivity among Buddhists of all backgrounds, Be the Refuge embodies the spirit of interconnection that glows at the heart of American Buddhism.

Author: Chenxing Han
ISBN-10: 1623175232
ISBN-13: 9781623175238
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Language: English
Published: 01/26/2021
Pages: 344
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 11/02/2020
Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2020
Library Journal 12/01/2020 pg. 89
Booklist 12/01/2020 pg. 4