It was only 150 years ago that there was virtually no knowledge of Buddhism in the West. But during the nineteenth century this has changed dramatically and the Buddhist tradition has succeeded in generating great interest and attracting large numbers of Westerners to its ideas and lifestyle.[1] The reasons for this attraction are many and varied, some of which will be examined below.
Unofficial Buddhism
Although few Westerners become actual members of the Buddhist religion, there are many who do adopt significant parts of its teaching into their lives.[2] Metz observes that there is also what might be called "an unofficial or anonymous Buddhism."[3] This can be seen in the amount of literature that is obtainable on the subject and the numerous meditation courses available.[4] Attracted to this level of Buddhism are those who have become disillusioned with their own culture and religious roots and have instead reached out to embrace the wisdom of the East. The outcome of such involvement often results in a wide conglomeration of syncretistic religious ideas which normally ends up having very little in common with actual Buddhism.[5]
Burnett also recognizes this fact, and feels that the most significant influence that Buddhism has had in Europe does not come from those who adhere wholeheartedly to it as a religion, but rather from the influence that it has managed to advance through its ideas and thinking as a philosophy.[6] But although there are many and varied expressions of Buddhism in existence in the West they all have similarities and originate from the same roots.
Gautama Buddha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism.[1] In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, "Buddha" meaning "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." [note 1] The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE,[2] but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE.[3][4] Based on archeological evidences and inscriptions, Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal[5][6] which is a UNESCO world heritage site.[7] He later taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.
Yantra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra
Yantra (यन्त्र) is the Sanskrit word for "instrument" or "machine". Much like the word "instrument" itself, it can stand for symbols, processes, automata, machinery or anything that has structure and organization, depending on context. One usage popular in the west is as symbols or geometric figures. Traditionally such symbols are used in Eastern mysticism to balance the mind or focus it on spiritual concepts. The act of wearing, depicting, enacting and/or concentrating on a yantra is held to have spiritual or astrological or magical benefits in the Tantric traditions of the Indian religions.
Maṇḍala
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala
Maṇḍala (मण्डल) is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the shape of a T.[1][2] These mandalas, concentric diagrams, have spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism.[3][4] The term is of Hindu origin and appears in the Rig Veda as the name of the sections of the work, but is also used in other Indian religions, particularly Buddhism. In the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism, mandalas have been developed into sandpainting. They are also a key part of anuttarayoga tantra meditation practices.