Buddhism comprises knowledge and experiences which are timeless and independent from a certain culture. This is the reason why it could spread throughout many different countries, such as India, central Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia. After the first hesitant approaches by some philosophers (e.g. Arthur Schopenhauer, Henry David Thoreau), authors (e.g. Hermann Hesse, Jack Kerouac), and others Buddhism has been taking root in the West since the 1970s.
The way Buddhism expressed itself in everyday life always depended on the different cultures and corresponding eras.

Moreover, in different countries different aspects of Buddha's teachings were emphasized. Buddha had given 84,000 teachings which after his death have been summarized into three different ways. They are called Theravada, Great Way and Diamondway. While Theravada spread throughout India and the South East Asian countries, the Great Way was mainly practiced in North East Asian countries. In Tibet Diamondway Buddhism was predominant. In the West, depending on countries, you find all three ways but increasingly the Diamondway.

The influence which the political and social structures of the different cultures had on Buddhism will be illustrated with three examples.

India at the Time of the Buddha

When Buddha became enlightened in India the country was dominated by the Hindu caste system and women were considered inferior to men. When Buddha began to teach, the first ones to come to him were Brahmins who he later welcomed as monks into his community. Soon Buddha also taught men from other social classes which was a revolutionary step that practically abolished the then dominant caste system within Buddha's community. In those days it was also considered a taboo in Indian society to admit women to religious communities. To enable them to practice Buddhism, Buddha founded the first order of nuns. In this way Buddha used the opportunities offered by the society of his time to the utmost extent.

Buddhism in Tibet

In Tibet there were three groups of practitioners.

On one hand there were the monks and nuns. Practically every family sent a child to a monastery to have them educated as a monk or nun. The families supported the monasteries with natural produce. In then feudal Tibet monasteries were not only places of religious education but also schools, universities and administrative centres at the same time. Often they were also the only place to get medical help.

The second group of practitioners were lay people. They financed the monasteries and practiced Buddhism in a short daily meditation or on special occasions such as festivals.

The third group were called "accomplishers" (Yogis). They preferred an independent often unconventional lifestyle and for example often spent years of meditation in caves.

The Tibetan state was almost completely permeated by Buddhism: from the political leadership (the Dalai Lamas) through the different Diamondway schools with their respective leaders down to the daily routines of common people.

Buddhism in the West

In the beginning, Buddhism was not only attractive for its teachings but also because of its exotic Asian appearance.

Meanwhile the different Buddhist schools have left part of their respective Asian traditions behind and teach and live an increasingly Western style.  In some countries (as for example in France) the teachings are mainly transmitted by monks and nuns, in German-speaking countries there are many lay practitioners, and in other countries (such as the U.S.) there exist different mixtures.

Accomplishers (Yogis) are rarely found in the West. They do not comply with social standards - their lifestyle often is not politically correct - but with absolute truth. They practice the "Pure View" in which every being is a potential Buddha.

Lay Buddhism sees itself as a way to integrate the teachings into everyday life. Behaviour, attitude, views and meditations more and more become life itself. In addition Buddhist meditation houses or centres offer the opportunity to meditate together and receive teachings and general information.

The lifestyle of monks and nuns is very different from the common way of living.  But here people have the chance to collect positive impressions in their minds by renouncing the challenges of everyday life and some often meditate several years in isolation. In this way Buddhism attends to all kinds of human inclinations.