Buddhism and politics in twentieth-century Asia

In this study, a team of international scholars assess the manner in which Buddhist organizations and individuals have resisted, come to terms with, or in some cases allied themselves with the forces of war, modernity, westernization, nationalization, capitalism, communism, and ethnic conflict. By examining issues such as left-right divisions in the monastic order, the rise of organized lay movements, Buddhist social activism, as well as explicitly Buddhist inspired political activity, this book seeks to demonstrate that the emphasis on meditation and mental training is only one strand in this richly complex world historical tradition. Historically, Buddhism Has Tended To Prosper In Societies Organized In Accordance With The Sociopolitical Teachings Of The Buddha. The Twentieth Century Has Been A Particularly Traumatic Time In Its History, Not Least Because Traditional Polities In Its Asian Heartlands Have Been Eroded By Such Disparate Factors As War, Colonialism, Modernity, Westernization, Nationalism, Capitalism, Communism And Ethnic Conflict. In This Study A Team Of International Scholars Assess, On A Country-by-country Basis, The Manner In Which Buddhist Organizations And Individuals Have Resisted, Come To Terms With, Or, In Some Cases, Allied Themselves With These Forces. It Has Become Customary For Westerners To View Buddhism As An Otherworldly And Introspective Religion. By Examining The Important Issues Of Left-right Divisions In The Monastic Order, The Rise Of Organized Lay Movements And Buddhist Social Activism, As Well As Explicitly Buddhist-inspired Political Activity, This Volume Seeks To Demonstrate That The Emphasis On Meditation And Mental Training Is Only One Strand In This Richly Complex World-historical Tradition.--jacket. Budhism And Politics In Asia : The Textual And Historical Roots / Ian Harris -- Legacy Of Tradition And Authority : Buddhism And The Nation In Myanmar / Bruce Mathews -- Buddhism In Extremis : The Case Of Cambodia / Ian Harris -- Politics And Ambedkar Buddhism In Maharashtra / Timothy Fitzgerald -- Japanese Nationalism And The Universal Dharma / Hiriko Kawanami -- Buddhism And Secular Power In Twentieth-century Korea / Henrik H. Sorensen -- Laos : From Buddhist Kingdom To Marxist State / Martin Stuart-fox -- First Among Equals : Buddhism And The Sri Lankan State / Tessa Bartholomeusz -- Centre And Periphery : Buddhism And Politics In Modern Thailand / Donald K. Swearer -- Renewal And Resistance : Tibetan Buddhism In The Modern Era / Ronald D. Schwartz -- Quest For Enlightenment And Cultural Identity : Buddhism In Contemporary Vietnam / Thien Do. Edited By Ian Harris. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Buddhism and politics in Asia - the textual and historical roots the legacy of tradition and authority - Buddhism and the nation in Myanmar Buddhism in extremis - the case of Cambodia politics and Ambedkar Buddhism in Maharashtra Japanese nationalism and the universal dharma Buddhism and secular power in the 20th century Laos - from Buddhist kingdom to Marxist state first among equals - Buddhism and the Sri Lankan state centre and periphery - Buddhism and politics in modern Thailand renewal and resistance - Tibetan Buddhism in the modern era the quest for enlightenment and cultural identity - Buddhism in contemporary Vietnam.