Trajectories of East Asian Buddhism in South Africa

Autor(en)

Ugo Dessi

Abstrakt

In this article I take my cue from Michel Clasquin-Johnson’s reflections on six main themes (lay practice, gender equality, adhesion to democratic principles, impact of Western psychology, social engagement, creation of a non-sectarian tradition) underlying the development of mainstream South African Buddhism to explore three forms of East Asian Buddhism operating in the country: the Dharma Centre (Korean Sŏn)—a representative of mainstream South African Buddhism—and the local branches of two large new religious movements—the Japan-based Soka Gakkai International (Nichiren Buddhism) and the Taiwan-based Foguangshan (Chinese Pure Land/Chan Buddhism)—which include a more diverse section of the South African population. Besides providing a detailed analysis of these forms of East Asian Buddhism in the country, I test the applicability of Clasquin-Johnson’s themes to the case studies and explore four further topics for the comparative study of South African Buddhism: interactions with local religions, proselytization, hybridization, the promise of worldly benefits.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Religionswissenschaft

Journal

Journal of Contemporary Religion

Band

37

Seiten

435-455

Anzahl der Seiten

21

ISSN

1353-7903

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2022.2124684

Publikationsdatum

10-2022

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

603909 Religionswissenschaft

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Cultural Studies, Philosophy, Religious studies

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/d2b1e2ea-0b1d-4285-9ae9-936ea1e09b49