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Article: Buddhists See Cup as Half Full // Positive Attitude Overlooks Stereotype
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- January 21, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1995 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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Though there are a quarter-billion Buddhists in the world and
somewhere between 500,000 and 2 million in the United States, many
Americans see Buddhism as far out.
We never get beyond Buddhism's belief in reincarnation. And
meditation? Like, wow, man . . .
"It's unknown, so
when things aren't understood, people imagine different things,"
says Jerry Smyers, a Zen Buddhist priest.
Most people are surprised when they find out Smyers is a
Buddhist. He doesn't fit the stereotype of the bald-headed Asian in
robes.
He's 45. Married with two kids. His hair is cut in a Western
style. He keeps his beard neat and trim.
And most days, he wears a suit to his job as a data processing
manager ...