Yoga, Buddhism & 18 Years in Asia
Looking at America and Americans

By Mr. John C. Kimbrough

Those who write frequently seem at times to experience two extremes.

One is that they have an idea that they want to share with others but struggle to find the words to articulate their views.

They may think that their ideas are worthwhile to write down in order to grow as individuals and share with others, but in the end they may find that they have managed four or five hundred words that were a struggle to get onto paper.

On the other hand, at times they are so wrapped up in what it is they want to say or have so many varied experiences, perceptions and knowledge about it, that they can write with no effort for what seems like hours and soon realize that they have written two or three thousand words.

Of course in writing, word length is not a measure of a good piece of writing, though we generally seem to need a certain amount of words in order to get our ideas, points and information across to others.

In writing about a subject such as looking at America and Americans, one who was born in this country will have a vast amount of experiences to draw from.

In addition, because the United States is the richest and most powerful country in the world at this time in world history, its influence, policies and the things happening there on a day to day basis is something that one, especially one that is from there may be mindful about and reflect on a daily basis.

Does one need five thousand words to reflect on such a place and people or can it all be stated in a just these seventeen words.

“That there are conditions there that cause people to suffer, just as anywhere else in the world”.

When this writer reflects on his experiences there, perhaps with more insight because of his interest in Yoga and Buddhism and having lived in Asia for 18 years, such a statement as the one above seems quite accurate.

I lived in the U.S. from my birth in 1950 until I left for what was to be a trip to Asia, with no real timetable or clear intentions at the age of 36, in 1987.

Since leaving, I was back in The United States for a period of and total of four months, from May to September in 2001.

For the first seven of so years away from The U.S., I was very involved in new things in my life and made a conscious effort to not look at what was happening in the U.S.

Of course these days, after having had some experience with living and traveling in Asia, getting older and hopefully more mature in both life and with the practice of Yoga and Buddhism, and looking at life, people, countries and cultures in a more universal sense, I pay quite a lot of attention to what happens in The United States.

I would have to say that my experiences growing up in the United States were largely negative.

This does not mean that it is not a great country with great opportunities and benefits for those who live there.

What this means is that many of the people I knew, met or interacted with during my life there seemed to have
been, on reflection, disturbed, troubled and confused.

It does not mean that they were bad people.

Just disturbed, troubled and confused.

Perhaps this has to do with how people are all over the world, regardless of where they are from, what kind of social and political system they live under or what their racial and ethnic background may be, that being that they feel a sense of alienation or isolation from the place and people they live in and around.

Yoga and Buddhism teach us that these disturbed, troubled and confused states and ways that we can be are because of our conditioning, ignorance and unmindful and unskillful thoughts, words and actions.

In learning and understanding such philosophies, we see that this explains how people can be in any place or part of the world.

Certainly, on reflection, I see that most of those negative experiences I had with America and Americans were a combination of things, as I wrestled with my own nature and finding out who I was, and others did the same.

We all, then and now, wrestle with, and in the future will wrestle with feelings of desire, guilt, and shame about some things, while at other times have a sense of understanding and clarity.

All of mankind seems to possess these two natures that work against each other, with one being strengthened or weakened because of how we live our life and what our conditioning has been.

It would be easy to say that Americans are isolated, egotistical and abusive but such a statement would be quite stupid.

The way Americans are is not much different then how people in any other country and place can be.

Can Yoga and Buddhism assist Americans in getting to a better place in their lives?

Of course they can.

There is absolutely no doubt in this writer’s mind about that.

Are Americans capable of making such a commitment and effort?

This question can not be answered accurately because it calls for a generalization, which in itself is very unskillful and unmindful.

Two teachers, one of Yoga and one of Buddhism, whose teachings I have become familiar with over the years have made statements as regards America and Americans that may be worthwhile to look at briefly.

One said that America as a whole was lost.

My experiences in sharing Yoga and Buddhist teachings and my personal experiences with many Americans shows
me that such a statement is not accurate.

Many Americans do see the shortcomings in their life and have misgivings about how the culture and society in which they live is functioning and operates.

They do see that they have problems and issues to work on, which may or may not be related to the conditioning they have been exposed to in growing up and living in America.

They do sense states of stress, anxiety, anger, resentment and dissatisfaction with their lives and who and how they are and want to weaken these tendencies.

And after saying all of this, many can be selfish, manipulative and only interested in themselves, while having little or no regard for, interest in or compassion to other Americans or their country and culture as a whole.

It is always interesting to meet so many American people who are very negative about America and other Americans and these views are often expressed in generalized and unmindful ways.

And in their feelings of aversion to their own people and country, they also think that these countries of Asia and their people are more enlightened and skillful in life and living.

Such a thought is not accurate.

Another view expressed by a teacher of Buddhism suggested that Americans have a lot of enthusiasm to learn and make changes but they can not maintain this enthusiasm.

This is somewhat understandable as modern countries and cultures have elements to them that suggest that there are quick fixes to problems and that we tend to gravitate to those means.

Yoga and Buddhism do not promise quick fixes to anything.

They give us systems of thought, word and actions that lead to a process of understanding, healing and growth.

In wanting or expecting immediate or quick results from them we do ourselves a disservice as do those who promise such a thing in order to get our money, allegiance or admiration.

Perhaps one important aspect of being an American and America is worth looking at, because it holds true for all people and countries in the world.

That is what does it mean to be a success in life and living?

We are taught in so many ways to look for and attain material and financial wealth.

We are not taught to seek wisdom and be compassionate.

Whenever I think of this concept, I think of celebrity hood and celebrities.

They seem to have the things that we all want and desire, such as wealth, fame, and unlimited good times, parties and sexual partners.

But then we see them being accused of and committing crimes and harming themselves and others, in spite of
all the things that they seemingly have.

Maybe all they have is more of an opportunity to engage and indulge in sensual pleasures and lose mindfulness of their own thoughts, feelings and actions.

Yoga and Buddhism both advise us that if we get lost in the senses or look for happiness only through sensual experiences we lose the greater joy that comes from balance and wisdom.

And my personal experiences of living in America?

Are they relevant now to include in such a discussion and discourse?

I sense my experiences there were one of being victimized consciously and unconsciously by others.

Was it my parents who got divorced when I was four?

Was it how they seemed to enter a period of being neglectful and abusive to me onward throughout their and my lives from when I was aged 12 and 13, a period of time when I encountered and experienced a number of challenging and traumatic episodes in my life?

Was it during and after a period of having been sexually abused by a neighborhood minister when I was 13 years old?

Was it when I thought that drugs and promiscuous sex could offer me happiness and satisfaction?

Was it being sent to prison on the word of a corrupt and dishonest police officer?

Was it being abandoned by someone that I loved while I was in prison?

Was it the endless search for someone who would have the patience and interest to sit down and listen and talk about these things and my thoughts and feelings as regards them?

Was it seeking out a way to get away from drugs and be sober and clean?

Was it the many friends who seemed to only be friends when they wanted something from you, be it sex or money and the later, conveniently forgot you or abused you because you felt hurt or confused from the experience with them?

Was it the snap answers, criticisms and judgements to honest and searching questions that were based on sincerity?

Was it the atmosphere of anger, judgement and hatred directed to other racial groups and religions in one’s own country and throughout the world?

Was it the tendency to be violent in words and actions instead of be patient and wait, listen and learn?

Perhaps some of my experiences may mirror yours or perhaps you have victimized others in such a matter yourself.

Those things that have happened to me, perhaps like you also, still cause me some pain and confusion, but I look at them in a brighter light these days, with a greater understanding of the people who did them and how I myself was in a state that lead them to happen or allowed them to happen.

The teachings and practices of Yoga and Buddhism can give us the insight, strength and wisdom to know ourselves so that such unskillful and unwholesome ways of being and living are no longer allowed to happen in our lives and just as importantly, we are not an instigator into bringing them into another’s life.

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John C. Kimbrough
John Lives & Teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. E-Mail : johnckimbrough@yahoo.com

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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