Buddhism in the Modern World

353 Pages·2012·3.889 MB·English

by  McMahan, David L.

Buddhism in the
Modern World
Edited by
David L. McMahan
Religions in the Modern World
Buddhism
in the Modern World
Buddhism in the Modern World explores the challenges faced by Buddhism today, the
distinctive forms that it has taken and the individuals and movements that have shaped it.
Part One discusses the modern history of Buddhism in different geographical regions, from
Southeast Asia to North America. Part Two examines key themes including globalization,
gender issues, and the ways in which Buddhism has confronted modernity, science, popular
culture and national politics. Each chapter is written by a distinguished scholar in the
field and includes photographs, summaries, discussion points and suggestions for further
reading. The book provides a lively and up-to-date overview that will be indispensable for
both students and scholars of Buddhism.
David L. McMahan is Professor of Religious Studies at Franklin & Marshall College, USA.
He is the author of The Making of Buddhist Modernism (Oxford, 2008) and Empty Vision:
Metaphor and Visionary Imagery in Mahāyāna Buddhism (Routledge, 2002).

B
uddhism
in the
Modern World

Edited by David L. McMahan
First published in 2012
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2012 David L. McMahan for selection and editorial matter; individual
contributors their contributions.
The right of the editor to be identified as the author of the editorial material,
and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Buddhism in the modern world / edited by David L. McMahan.
p. cm.
1. Buddhism--History--21st century. I. McMahan, David L.
BQ316.B82 2012
294.3--dc23
2011028409
ISBN: 978-0-415-78014-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-78015-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-13905-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Gentium
By Saxon Graphics Ltd, Derby
C
ontents

List of Illustrations vii
Notes on Contributors xi
Introduction – David L. McMahan 1
Part one: Buddhism in its Geographical Contexts 7
1. Modern Buddhist Conjunctures in Southeast Asia – Juliane Schober 9
2. Buddhism in Modern Sri Lanka – Stephen C. Berkwitz 29
3. Searching for a Place to Sit: Buddhists in Modern Japan –
Clark Chilson 49
4. Buddhism in China and Taiwan – Gareth Fisher 69
5. Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism – Sarah Jacoby and
Antonio Terrone 89
6. Modernist Interpretations of Buddhism in Europe – Martin Baumann 113
7. The North American Buddhist Experience – Paul David Numrich 137
Part two: Buddhism and the Challenges of Modernity 157
8. Buddhist Modernism – David L. McMahan 159
9. Buddhism, Politics and Nationalism – Ian Harris 177
10. Socially Engaged Buddhism – Sallie B. King 195
11. Buddhist Ethics: A Critique – Damien Keown 215
12. Buddhism and the Powers of the Mind – Richard K. Payne 233
13. Buddhism and Gender – Liz Wilson 257
14. Buddhism and Science: Translating and Re-translating Culture -
Francisca Cho 273
15. Buddhism and Globalization – Cristina Rocha 289
16. Buddhism, Media and Popular Culture – Scott A. Mitchell 305
Index 325

I
llustrations

1.1 Buddhist monks sit in a Vung Tau street during a protest against the South
Vietnamese government and the United States during the Vietnam War (May 1966) 17
© Bettmann/CORBIS
1.2 Buddhist monks marching in protest in Yangon, Myanmar (September 2007) 18
© AFP/AFP/Getty Images
2.1 Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse receives blessings from Buddhist monks
in Colombo (January 2010) 42
© LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images
3.1 Mizuko Jizō statues decorated with pinwheels and flowers are seen at a Buddhist
temple in Tokyo 62
© KIMIMASA MAYAMA/Reuters/Corbis
4.1 The Fo Guang headquarters near Kaohsiung in Taiwan 74
Courtesy of Gareth Fisher
4.2 The Hall of Still Thoughts at the Ciji Foundation’s headquarters in Hualian, Taiwan 75
Courtesy of Gareth Fisher
4.3 A recently constructed temple complex near Beijing aims to attract tourists
and pilgrims alike 79
Courtesy of Gareth Fisher
viii illustrations
4.4 Laypersons line up to receive copies of a free Buddhist book at the Temple of
Universal Rescue (Guangji Si) in Beijing 80
Courtesy of Gareth Fisher
4.5 Incense, Emeishan 82
Courtesy of David L. McMahan
5.1 The Tibet Peaceful Liberation Monument, unveiled in Lhasa in 2007 91
Courtesy of David L. McMahan
5.2 The Potala Palace in Lhasa 96
Courtesy of Sarah Jacoby
5.3 Panoramic view of the nun’s quarters in the eastern Tibetan religious encampment
called Yachen Gar in Tromtar, Kandzé Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Province, PRC 98
Courtesy of Antonio Terrone
5.4 The fourteenth Dalai Lama 101
© D. Dipasupil/FilmMagic
6.1 Wat Buddhapadipa – the first Buddhist temple in the United Kingdom, established
by the London Buddhist Temple Foundation with the objective of creating a center
for the dissemination of theoretical and practical Buddhist teachings in Europe 125
© Homer Sykes/Getty Images
6.2 Lama Govinda (center) at the Kasardevi Ashram, Almora (1966) 128
Courtesy of Sangharakshita
7.1 Buddhist monks in traditional robes collect alms while walking through Times
Square in New York City (2007) 142
© Spencer Platt/Getty Images
7.2 Buddhists meditating at San Francisco Zen Center 145
© Ed Kashi/CORBIS
8.1 D. T. Suzuki 165
© AP/AP/Press Association Images
illustrations ix
9.1 Cambodians go to the polls to vote for the ruling Sangkum Party (June 1962) 189
© MBW/AP/Press Association Images
10.1 Self-immolation by a Buddhist monk in the central market square of Saigon (1963) 199
© Bettmann/CORBIS
10.2 Thích Nhât Hanh 200
© KHAM/X01568/Reuters/Corbis
11.1 A monk in Sri Lanka tries to prevent slash and burn agricultural practices
(burning grassland to expand farmland) that damage the environment 219
© Eco Images/Universal Images Group
12.1 Henry S. Olcott (1832–1907), American theosophist 243
© CORBIS
13.1 Dhammananda Bhikkhunī (center), with Brooke Schedneck (right) and Eva
Pascal (left). She received bhikkhunī ordination in Sri Lanka in 2003, making her
the first Thai woman to receive full ordination as a Theravāda nun 267
Courtesy of Brooke Schedneck
14.1 A monk participates in a research study led by Richard J. Davidson (University of
Wisconsin-Madison) that monitors brain waves during meditation 281
Courtesy of Jeff Miller/University of Wisconsin-Madison
15.1 Buddha-Bar in Jakarta 291
© BEAWIHARTA/Reuters/Corbis
16.1 Tattoo of Buddhist mantra (om mani padme hum) in Tibetan script 307
Courtesy of Scott Brown
16.2 Il Buddino pudding molds on display in a San Francisco gift shop 318
Courtesy of Dana Mitchell
Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain permission to reproduce
material. Any omissions brought to the attention of the publisher will be remedied in
future editions.