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.