Scouting in the Buddhist Community
Overview
Scouting serves an important role in youth development in the Buddhist
community. Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and
Venturing crews chartered to Buddhist organizations can be found throughout
the United States. Scouts can participate within units chartered to Buddhist
organizations or as members of units chartered to other organizations.
Buddhist youth have participated in Scouting for more than 75 years.
Since 1920, with the formation of Troop 4 by the Fresno Buddhist Church,
young Buddhists in America have enjoyed the benefits of Scouting.
Organization
The Buddhist Churches of America administers the religious emblems program
for all Buddhist denominations in America. Founded in 1899, the Buddhist Churches
of America is affiliated with Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha in Kyoto, Japan. The
Buddhist Churches of America National Committee on Scouting works with the
religious leaders of the Buddhist community to develop the Buddhist religious
program.
The National Buddhist Committee on Scouting works closely with the religious
relationships director of the Boy Scouts of America to promote a harmonious
relationship between all religious denominations and organizations.
Religious Emblems
Any registered Scout who has fulfilled all of the requirements for the Metta
emblem or Sangha emblem can receive the recognition appropriate to his course
of study.
- Metta Emblem
- Metta is a Buddhist term meaning loving kindness and goodwill.
This word was selected as the name for the Cub Scout religious
emblem with the hope of nurturing boys to relate to all things
with loving kindness and goodwill.
- Sangha Emblem
- Sangha means Buddhist brotherhood. The Sangha emblem program
gives the Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Venturer practical
guidance in achieving the spiritual pledge made in the Scout
Oath and Law, through the application of Buddhist teachings.
The program teaches the basic tenets of Buddhism as they
relate to the activities of daily life. The program stresses
the importance of both harmonious relationships and the
universal brotherhood of all living beings.
The Goal of Buddhist
The goal of all Buddhist is enlightenment through understanding of the
reasons and causes of suffering. Awareness of impermanence and of oneself
and compassion toward others are basic and essential elements of Buddhism.
Buddhist Practices
The fundamental doctrine of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths,
which are:
- Noble Truth of Suffering
- Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
- Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
- Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the
Cessation of Suffering
The last of the Four Noble Truths is also referred to as the Noble
Eightfold Path, which is another basic foundation of Buddhism.
The Noble Eightfold Path is the practice of
- Right Views
- Right Thoughts
- Right Speech
- Right Conduct
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Meditation
For more information, contact your local Buddhist Temple or write the
National Buddhist Committee on Scouting, Buddhist Churches of America,
701 E. Thrift Ave., Kingsland, GA 31548-5222; phone 912-729-6323; fax
912-729-1699; e-mail bcascout@eagnet.com; Web page:
http://www.eagnet.com/edipage/areaserv/nbcs/home.htm
Hawaii office: Hompa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1727 Pali Highway,
Honolulu, HI 96813; phone 808-522-9200.