“But you’re not a Buddhist…Honey, you’re not from China” derides Victoria Ratcliff to her daughter, Piper, in the episode, “Denials,” of the newest season of The White Lotus. If you (like so many) have tuned in since February, you’re likely waiting to see how Piper’s desire to live in a monastery unfolds — and whether Buddhism (or as Parker Posey so virally pronounces it, “Buuuuudhism”) will offer Piper an escape from her identity as a wealthy Ratcliff, and satisfy her longing for a deeper spiritual connection with the world.
I resonate with Piper’s character as I became fascinated by Buddhist ideology after taking Introduction to the Study of Buddhism for a breadth requirement during my freshman year. Like Piper, growing up in a white affluent community, I’ve found that Buddhist ideology is often at odds with a lifestyle steeped in superficial pleasures like social media, reality tv, and material possessions.
In conversations with peers, I also realized that while I was excited by the course, some students — particularly those who grew up in Buddhist communities — felt the white professor’s focus on foundational texts overshadowed their lived experiences. Confronted with this gap, I began to question my newly formed perceptions of Buddhism, and felt increasingly distanced from a philosophy rooted in compassion, selflessness, and collective well-being.
My fascination with Buddhism was further overshadowed by the demands of a STEM-heavy course load in my following three semesters. However, with season three of The White Lotus set in Thailand — a country with a 90% Buddhist population — I was reminded even a basic understanding of Buddhist philosophy can serve as a meaningful lens to reflect on our own fulfillment and happiness.Â
As a North Carolina country club elite, Victoria Ratcliff views Piper’s request to live in a monastery both unrealistic and a betrayal of their family values — unaware the comfortable lifestyle she imposes on Piper is already in jeopardy due to her husband’s embezzlement being exposed to authorities. This dramatic irony underscore’s White’s exploration of identity and the Buddhist notion of anatta: the nothingness of self. Like Victoria Ratcliff, many characters’ fragile identities built off superficial success start to unravel as the season progresses.Â
Even Piper’s interest in Buddhism is complicated: she exploits her family’s wealth by convincing them to stay at an exclusive resort in Thailand so she can connect with a local monk to reach spiritual enlightenment in a culture that sees greed as a poison. Instead of using Buddhism to cultivate contentment and detachment, Piper’s spiritual journey feels inauthentic — rooted in escapism and privilege rather than genuine transformation.
Beyond satire, The White Lotus uses Buddhism as a backdrop to highlight the importance of inner happiness. As a college student, I constantly face pressure to succeed and the looming possibility of rejection from clubs, internships, and jobs. But if we seek out nonmaterial sources of joy, we can learn to cope with impermanence and build resilience in times of instability. Buddhism can ground all of us — without a five star hotel or a monastery across the globe — by reflecting on what brings us peace and cultivating a life of meaning.