Globalization & Buddhism Buddhism - A brief History

566-486 BCE, Life of Siddhartha Guatama, the historical Buddha 272-231 BCE, Reign of Indian Emperor Asoka establishes the Buddha's Dharma in India 250 BCE The Pali Tipitaka complete 247 BCE Buddhism in Sri Lanka 100 CE Buddhism established in Cambodia 150 CE Buddhism in Vietnam 589-617 CE Sui Dynasty begins of Golden Age of Chinese Buddhism 594 CE Buddhism state religion in Japan 749 CE First monastery built in Tibet 800 CE Borobudur built in Java, Indonesia 1903 CE Buddhist Society of Germany 1907 CE Buddhist Society of Great Britain 1952 CE World Fellowship of Buddhists 1959 CE Dalai Lama flees to India 1966 CE 1st Theravada Sangha in USA 1989 CE Dalai Lama awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

WORLDVIEW

A Buddhist perspective : Everything is interdependent and does not last harmony and balance and peacefulness are essential. Respect must be given to all living things Materialism and luxury are illusions All aggression and violence is wrong

Buddhism has always had a global perspective.

In the 3rd century BCE The Emperor Ashoka sent missionaries to the East and the West with the message of Buddha. Buddhism became the predominant faith in Asia. In the west it had less impact although the growth monasticism may have been linked to Buddhist ideas GLOBALISATION & COLLONISATION

During the19th century many Buddhist countries became colonies of Britain

(Sri Lanka, Burma, Nepal and Bhutan) or France ( Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) Westerners became interested in Buddhism ( acculturation)

Globalisation and Gender.

The Buddha had women in the Sangha This practice disappeared in Sri Lanka . In 1903 Catherine de Alwis (from a Christian family) set up a Sangha for women in Sri Lanka-She had gone to Burma to be ordained. Recently the Vajrayana Sangha was opened to women due to pressure from western converts ( Tenzin Palmo)

Globalisation Dalai Lama & Tibet

Buddhists embrace all technology that does not hurt any sentinent beings The Dalai Lama constantly travels by jet to visit world leaders Internet sites constantly monitor Tibetan issues and publicise their cause Most monks have mobile phones Buddhism is growing rapidly in the West with the Dalai Lama one of the most respected people in the world. See www.rusanjo.com/buddhism.ppt

CONFLICT Buddhism stresses resolution to conflict Any aggression or violence is wrong A Buddhist looks to enlighten anyone who shows anger or violence

Buddhist cultures that currently face conflict are Sri Lanka and Tibet Tibetans have used the media , technology and global opinion to push for resolution of their 50 year old conflict with China Sri Lanka has an aggressive Hindu minority and has to contend with constant terrorist attacks

References: http://www.religion-religions.com http://www.stwr.org http://www.shindharmanet.com http://blag.biz/buddhism-and-globalization