Many Buddhists, believe it or not, possess cars, houses, jewelry, and other items. "Because so many vocal Buddhists in America are practicing monks or wealthy individuals shunning consumerism to go meditate," says Wasserman, "we assume all Buddhists are like that." "Travel to a Buddhist country, and you will not see people abandoning the worldly world, but rather, like other religions, praying to win the lottery or be prosperous," he adds.