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Most states teach Buddhism’s origins as part of world history. Few teach the story of Buddhist Americans, who have been part of this country since the Gold Rush.
Dharma Across the Pacific takes its title from the Buddha’s teaching, the dharma, and the many journeys that brought it to the United States. Students follow that story from a Chinese temple founded by Gold Rush miners in Weaverville, California, to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, the Buddhist priests arrested the night of Pearl Harbor, and the Supreme Court’s 1972 ruling in Cruz v. Beto. They continue through the refugee communities that founded temples after the Vietnam War, to the first Buddhist chaplain in the U.S. armed forces in 2004. Along the way, they see how Buddhist Americans helped widen religious freedom for everyone.
What’s inside
- A three-period inquiry lesson for Grade 11 U.S. History, with adaptations for Grade 12 civics and a Grades 6–9 bridge to the origins-of-Buddhism unit
- Nine primary sources, from the 1893 Parliament addresses and Executive Order 9066 to Cruz v. Beto and the Refugee Act of 1980, each with context, a glossary and discussion questions
- A teacher answer key, an assessment rubric and differentiation strategies
- Twelve full-page images for projecting or photocopying
- Alignment to the C3 Framework, NCSS themes and AP U.S. History, plus a worksheet for matching the plan to your state’s standards
- A built-in ING speaker panel, with first-person voices from diverse Buddhist Americans, available in person or virtually in every state
For educators: The lesson teaches about religion academically, not devotionally, and fits the U.S. History content you already teach. It can also support state requirements to teach Asian American history.
For community leaders: Share this plan with teachers and school leaders in your area, and connect them with ING to schedule a speaker panel.
Complete the form below to download a PDF copy.