en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/972804 Comments by jmbsquared1 http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2010/04/bg-166-what-young-people-want/#IDComment69764094 I am also in my late 40s, which puts me someplace, but I have a few comments about the age-ism, which I think goes both ways. First of all, I do not have children, so do not relate to people my age who are SO focused on their kids in conversations -- for some, their practice involves parenting. Also, I do not want to talk about menopause too much. That said, I have lived through some things in my life that gives me a perspective on the type of angst that some young people express. They listen to old people share about aging and we listen to them talk about problems that seem SO big because they don't have life experience to give them perspective or centering. So we seem at odds. But we are trying to follow the same path! I do NOT want a do your own thing practice as said above -- I want discipline and community. I think we have a lot to learn from each other -- some of us old folks still have energy and have lives and practices that would surprised some fo the younger people if they bothered to talk to us. I feel marginalized sometimes too. Even in these comments, I see misconceptions from all sides come out. And yes, absolutely, we need younger Buddhists to keep Western practice alive, but I don't think that means we can't have sanghas or friendships that are inter-generational. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:58:41 +0000 http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2010/04/bg-166-what-young-people-want/#IDComment69764094