Westerns Go East to Learn About Buddhism

November 16, 2004

Source: Voice of America

http://www.voanews.com/english/NewsAnalysis/2004-11-16-voa43.cfm

On November 16, 2004 Voice of America ran a feature article on Westerners traveling east to learn about Buddhism. The article focused on several different Western students of Buddhism: "Jeffrey Oliver, an Australian with a relaxed presence and penetrating blue eyes, is discussing Vipassana, or insight meditation, at a large temple in Bangkok... Mr. Oliver was a Buddhist monk in Myanmar for eight years.  He is one of a number of Westerners who have exchanged their modern lifestyles for a life of service, poverty and meditation.  Mr. Oliver says he enjoyed living in Australia, yet wanted to develop his spirituality, a hard task in what he describes as the West's frenetic pace."