Glocal Buddhas

This research project explores how religions adapt themselves to our societies while they are becoming more and more globalized. In particular, we are interested in a broad range of questions, including the following: How and why do religions spread internationally and reach distant places and cultures? Have the interactions between different religions changed significantly in global society? What is the attitude religions have towards global science and the market economy? What do religions think about globally popular ideas like ecology and human rights? What are the reasons for which religions choose one option instead of another when they deal with such dilemmas, and can be more or less tolerant, more or less dogmatic, and more or less interested in the environmental crisis? Do they wish to become more global to acquire more power? Or do they wish to become more global because they find some common points between their own traditions and certain aspects of global culture? In order to clarify these questions, we will explore how East Asian Buddhism is interacting with the European context in two neighboring countries, Austria and Italy. We will especially focus on Zen, Soka Gakkai International, and Chan Buddhism, three forms of East Asian Buddhism that are popular in both countries. Through these two specific case studies we aim to show that the dynamics of religious globalization can be interrelated to one another, and that it is possible to explain them through a comprehensive and integrated approach. Moreover, new and more detailed information about East Asian Buddhism in Austria and Italy from the perspective of globalizat ion can contribute to a deeper understanding of the issue of religious pluralism in the EU area. From the methodological point of view, our project will be developed in two stages. During Stage 1 (2 years), we plan to conduct a considerable amount of fieldwork in Austria and Italy to observe the activities and practices of these forms of East Asian Buddhism, interview religious leaders and followers, and gather precious research material including official documents, brochures, newsletters, and books published by these religious groups. During Stage 2 (1 year) we will compare systematically the results of our research in Austria and Italy with the aim to identify similarities and differences in the globalization of East Asian Buddhism in different socio-cultural contexts.

This research project explores how religions adapt themselves to our societies while they are becoming more and more globalized. In particular, we are interested in a broad range of questions, including the following: How and why do religions spread internationally and reach distant places and cultures? Have the interactions between different religions changed significantly in global society? What is the attitude religions have towards global science and the market economy? What do religions think about globally popular ideas like ecology and human rights? What are the reasons for which religions choose one option instead of another when they deal with such dilemmas, and can be more or less tolerant, more or less dogmatic, and more or less interested in the environmental crisis? Do they wish to become more global to acquire more power? Or do they wish to become more global because they find some common points between their own traditions and certain aspects of global culture? In order to clarify these questions, we will explore how East Asian Buddhism is interacting with the European context in two neighboring countries, Austria and Italy. We will especially focus on Zen, Soka Gakkai International, and Chan Buddhism, three forms of East Asian Buddhism that are popular in both countries. Through these two specific case studies we aim to show that the dynamics of religious globalization can be interrelated to one another, and that it is possible to explain them through a comprehensive and integrated approach. Moreover, new and more detailed information about East Asian Buddhism in Austria and Italy from the perspective of globalization can contribute to a deeper understanding of the issue of religious pluralism in the EU area. From the methodological point of view, our project will be developed in two stages. During Stage 1 (2 years), we plan to conduct a considerable amount of fieldwork in Austria and Italy to observe the activities and practices of these forms of East Asian Buddhism, interview religious leaders and followers, and gather precious research material including official documents, brochures, newsletters, and books published by these religious groups. During Stage 2 (1 year) we will compare systematically the results of our research in Austria and Italy with the aim to identify similarities and differences in the globalization of East Asian Buddhism in different socio-cultural contexts.