e alien to one another yet now it is not uncommon to see people practising Buddhism and living fully functional Western type lifestyles. This must mean that there are aspects of both Buddhism and the societies in question that can coincide while other aspects are rejected.One interesting aspect of Buddhism that can be considered is the effect of technology on the human psyche and the resulting tendency of humans to adopt religions with certain traits. When technology distances people from useful production within society, technology causes them to feel disposable. Buddhism teaches these people that there is an ultimate reality beyond this immediate and difficult world.Another key question regarding Buddhist fundamentalism is where is it most commonly studied? Depending on the surroundings of the individual there may be limitations on what they are able to believe. There are many factors that can affect how Buddhism can be understood and practised. One example of surroundings effecting the believer is when the Chinese government invaded Tibet, the Tibetans were no longer allowed to practice Buddhism as their faith. Another example is that the Dalai Lama has publicly declared that due to the harsh climate of Tibet the consumption of meat is allowed by Buddhists living in Tibet, although it is still against religious principles for other Buddhist to eat meat. So religious values and rules are often subject to the rules and ideology of the surrounding society.Why do people look toward Buddhism as their chosen religion? We should look at what causes the individual to follow a faith, what are the influences in that persons life, are they family or are they media? Does the person look to religion because they are dissatisfied with their present lifestyle? Is it because someone who has influence over them is also interested in the Buddhist religion? Or perhaps it is because they find the idea of Buddhism exotic and therefore appeali...
