The notion of a global Buddhism refers to the many ways in which Buddhism in its plurality plays ... more The notion of a global Buddhism refers to the many ways in which Buddhism in its plurality plays out under, as well as is taking part in, the conditions of globalization. The relationship between Buddhism and globalization is complex and multifaceted. The English terms religion and Buddhism as generic categories are in fact themselves a product of globalization, particularly in its earlier, colonial phase. But colonialism has not only produced increased transnational exchanges and connections between the colonized countries of Asia and the West, it has also facilitated enhanced connectivity and mutual awareness among the different Buddhist traditions within Asia. Modernist Asian Buddhists actively negotiated the global flows of colonial modernity and applied them to their own agenda, thereby shaping the emergence of modern national Buddhist traditions. In the second half of the 20th century, the economic and political restructuring of the globe and the resulting liberalization of mi...
The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order mainta... more The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order maintains a global network of over 200 temples and practice centers that spans over not only most of the Asian continent, but also includes Oceania, the Americas, Europe and Africa. This article examines how the order negotiates the modern secular/religious divide by considering the example of its flagship diaspora temple Hsi Lai Temple in L.A., California. Particular attention is given to two prevalent religious practices at the temple—ritual and social engagements—that are often associated with the ‘religious’ and the ‘secular’ respectively. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, the article aims to assess the relationship between the two practices and discusses how they resonate with a new generation of highly educated, affluent Chinese migrants.
Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. ... more Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. Yet very little research has been done with regard to their contemporary role. This article tries to fill this gap by examining different concepts and practices of pure land at a contemporary Taiwanese Chan Buddhist group, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM). It is based on extensive fieldwork, examination of DDM’s publications, and the writings of the organization's founder, Ven. Shengyan. Pure land is at the crossing point of three distinctive discourses at DDM: (1) Modernist notions of the pure land on earth developed in the twentieth Century, (2) Amitabha related pure land practices like nianfo which are very popular with the laity and provide assistance in dealing with the universal problem of death, and (3) mind-only understandings that mediate the tensions between the two on a doctrinal level. This article developed out of my Master’s thesis. I am very grateful for the support of my ad...
The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order mainta... more The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order maintains a global network of over 200 temples and practice centers that spans over not only most of the Asian continent, but also includes Oceania, the Americas, Europe and Africa. This article examines how the order negotiates the modern secular/religious divide by considering the example of its flagship diaspora temple Hsi Lai Temple in L.A., California. Particular attention is given to two prevalent religious practices at the temple—ritual and social engagements—that are often associated with the 'religious' and the 'secular' respectively. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, the article aims to assess the relationship between the two practices and discusses how they resonate with a new generation of highly educated, affluent Chinese migrants.
Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. ... more Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. Yet very little research has been done with regard to their contemporary role. This article tries to fill this gap by examining different concepts and practices of pure land at a contemporary Taiwanese Chan Buddhist group, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM). It is based on extensive fieldwork, examination of DDM's publications, and the writings of the organization's founder, Ven. Shengyan. Pure land is at the crossing point of three distinctive discourses at DDM: (1) Modernist notions of the pure land on earth developed in the twentieth Century, (2) Amitabha related pure land practices like nianfo which are very popular with the laity and provide assistance in dealing with the universal problem of death, and (3) mind-only understandings that mediate the tensions between the two on a doctrinal level. I aim to assess how these discourses are negotiated and integrated by a variety of human actors who act in a particular historical context. Hereby I hope to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the forces that are producing contemporary forms of Buddhist religiosity in Asia.
Keywords: Pure Land, Contemporary Chinese Buddhism, Dharma Drum Mountain, Renjian Buddhism, Taiwanese Buddhism
This project explores the global spread of the two Taiwanese religious organizations Foguangshan ... more This project explores the global spread of the two Taiwanese religious organizations Foguangshan (“Buddha’s Light Mountain”) and Yiguandao (“Way of Pervading Unity”) by studying their transnational religious spaces. Particularly since the gradual relaxation of political restraints in 1980s Taiwan, both religious organizations have started to spread their religious and cultural traditions on a global scale. Their endeavours connect, cross, and inhabit countries affected by Chinese migration as well as facilitate cross-border spatial arrangements such as transnational communities (including Chinese diaspora/Chinese cultural sphere/Buddhism). By focusing on three primary field sites, namely South Africa, the United States, and East Asia (China and Japan), and applying the methodological framework of multi-sited ethnography, we aim to understand the transnational organizational structures, the creation of transnational social spaces, and the dynamics of central control and decentralization of the two religious organizations.
This project is a part of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1199: “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”, which deals with questions like what characterizes the spaces made by people, how they relate to one another, and whether resulting spatial orders are becoming increasingly complex within the context of globalization processes. Of all projects at this centre, this project is the only one dealing specifically with religion and processes of spatialization under the global condition.
The notion of a global Buddhism refers to the many ways in which Buddhism in its plurality plays ... more The notion of a global Buddhism refers to the many ways in which Buddhism in its plurality plays out under, as well as is taking part in, the conditions of globalization. The relationship between Buddhism and globalization is complex and multifaceted. The English terms religion and Buddhism as generic categories are in fact themselves a product of globalization, particularly in its earlier, colonial phase. But colonialism has not only produced increased transnational exchanges and connections between the colonized countries of Asia and the West, it has also facilitated enhanced connectivity and mutual awareness among the different Buddhist traditions within Asia. Modernist Asian Buddhists actively negotiated the global flows of colonial modernity and applied them to their own agenda, thereby shaping the emergence of modern national Buddhist traditions. In the second half of the 20th century, the economic and political restructuring of the globe and the resulting liberalization of mi...
The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order mainta... more The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order maintains a global network of over 200 temples and practice centers that spans over not only most of the Asian continent, but also includes Oceania, the Americas, Europe and Africa. This article examines how the order negotiates the modern secular/religious divide by considering the example of its flagship diaspora temple Hsi Lai Temple in L.A., California. Particular attention is given to two prevalent religious practices at the temple—ritual and social engagements—that are often associated with the ‘religious’ and the ‘secular’ respectively. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, the article aims to assess the relationship between the two practices and discusses how they resonate with a new generation of highly educated, affluent Chinese migrants.
Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. ... more Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. Yet very little research has been done with regard to their contemporary role. This article tries to fill this gap by examining different concepts and practices of pure land at a contemporary Taiwanese Chan Buddhist group, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM). It is based on extensive fieldwork, examination of DDM’s publications, and the writings of the organization's founder, Ven. Shengyan. Pure land is at the crossing point of three distinctive discourses at DDM: (1) Modernist notions of the pure land on earth developed in the twentieth Century, (2) Amitabha related pure land practices like nianfo which are very popular with the laity and provide assistance in dealing with the universal problem of death, and (3) mind-only understandings that mediate the tensions between the two on a doctrinal level. This article developed out of my Master’s thesis. I am very grateful for the support of my ad...
The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order mainta... more The Taiwanese order Fo Guang Shan is a major representative of renjian Buddhism. The order maintains a global network of over 200 temples and practice centers that spans over not only most of the Asian continent, but also includes Oceania, the Americas, Europe and Africa. This article examines how the order negotiates the modern secular/religious divide by considering the example of its flagship diaspora temple Hsi Lai Temple in L.A., California. Particular attention is given to two prevalent religious practices at the temple—ritual and social engagements—that are often associated with the 'religious' and the 'secular' respectively. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, the article aims to assess the relationship between the two practices and discusses how they resonate with a new generation of highly educated, affluent Chinese migrants.
Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. ... more Historically, pure land notions and practices have played an important role in Chinese Buddhism. Yet very little research has been done with regard to their contemporary role. This article tries to fill this gap by examining different concepts and practices of pure land at a contemporary Taiwanese Chan Buddhist group, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM). It is based on extensive fieldwork, examination of DDM's publications, and the writings of the organization's founder, Ven. Shengyan. Pure land is at the crossing point of three distinctive discourses at DDM: (1) Modernist notions of the pure land on earth developed in the twentieth Century, (2) Amitabha related pure land practices like nianfo which are very popular with the laity and provide assistance in dealing with the universal problem of death, and (3) mind-only understandings that mediate the tensions between the two on a doctrinal level. I aim to assess how these discourses are negotiated and integrated by a variety of human actors who act in a particular historical context. Hereby I hope to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the forces that are producing contemporary forms of Buddhist religiosity in Asia.
Keywords: Pure Land, Contemporary Chinese Buddhism, Dharma Drum Mountain, Renjian Buddhism, Taiwanese Buddhism
This project explores the global spread of the two Taiwanese religious organizations Foguangshan ... more This project explores the global spread of the two Taiwanese religious organizations Foguangshan (“Buddha’s Light Mountain”) and Yiguandao (“Way of Pervading Unity”) by studying their transnational religious spaces. Particularly since the gradual relaxation of political restraints in 1980s Taiwan, both religious organizations have started to spread their religious and cultural traditions on a global scale. Their endeavours connect, cross, and inhabit countries affected by Chinese migration as well as facilitate cross-border spatial arrangements such as transnational communities (including Chinese diaspora/Chinese cultural sphere/Buddhism). By focusing on three primary field sites, namely South Africa, the United States, and East Asia (China and Japan), and applying the methodological framework of multi-sited ethnography, we aim to understand the transnational organizational structures, the creation of transnational social spaces, and the dynamics of central control and decentralization of the two religious organizations.
This project is a part of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1199: “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”, which deals with questions like what characterizes the spaces made by people, how they relate to one another, and whether resulting spatial orders are becoming increasingly complex within the context of globalization processes. Of all projects at this centre, this project is the only one dealing specifically with religion and processes of spatialization under the global condition.
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Keywords:
Pure Land, Contemporary Chinese Buddhism, Dharma Drum Mountain,
Renjian Buddhism, Taiwanese Buddhism
This project is a part of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1199: “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”, which deals with questions like what characterizes the spaces made by people, how they relate to one another, and whether resulting spatial orders are becoming increasingly complex within the context of globalization processes. Of all projects at this centre, this project is the only one dealing specifically with religion and processes of spatialization under the global condition.
Keywords:
Pure Land, Contemporary Chinese Buddhism, Dharma Drum Mountain,
Renjian Buddhism, Taiwanese Buddhism
This project is a part of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1199: “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”, which deals with questions like what characterizes the spaces made by people, how they relate to one another, and whether resulting spatial orders are becoming increasingly complex within the context of globalization processes. Of all projects at this centre, this project is the only one dealing specifically with religion and processes of spatialization under the global condition.