ABSTRACT
The popular image in the West of Buddhism is of a religion or philosophy of life that emphasizes meditation, relaxation, exploration of the mind, and compassion. According to this image, it doesn’t have strict rules, is undogmatic, non-ritualistic, encourages creativity and freedom of thought, is compatible with a modern scientific world view, and is itself more an inner science or ‘spirituality’ than a religion. It is democratic and espouses social and political freedoms, human rights, and environmental activism. If, however, Western seekers of Buddhism go to a typical Buddhist temple, monastery, or pilgrimage site in Asia, they are often surprised to see that the practice of Buddhism for most Buddhists entails many rituals, bowing before buddha images, and belief in mythical cosmology, magic, heavens and hells, and a plethora of unseen beings – buddhas, bodhisattvas, protector spirits, ghosts, and demons who respond to prayers, invocations, and offerings.
