Transplanting Buddhism : an investigation into the spread of Buddhism,with reference to Buddhism in South Africa

/pdf/sino-african-philosophy-a-re-constructive-engagement-41dsdp36p9.pdf

Sino-African Philosophy: A Re-“Constructive Engagement”

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/11/598/pdf

Soka Gakkai International in Post-Apartheid South Africa

ABSTRACT In this article I take my cue from Michel Clasquin-Johnson’s reflections on six main themes (lay practice, gender equality, adhesion to democratic principles, impact of Western psychology, social engagement, creation of a non-sectarian tradition) underlying the development of mainstream South African Buddhism to explore three forms of East Asian Buddhism operating in the country: the Dharma Centre (Korean Sŏn)—a representative of mainstream South African Buddhism—and the local branches of two large new religious movements—the Japan-based Soka Gakkai International (Nichiren Buddhism) and the Taiwan-based Foguangshan (Chinese Pure Land/Chan Buddhism)—which include a more diverse section of the South African population. Besides providing a detailed analysis of these forms of East Asian Buddhism in the country, I test the applicability of Clasquin-Johnson’s themes to the case studies and explore four further topics for the comparative study of South African Buddhism: interactions with local religions, proselytization, hybridization, the promise of worldly benefits.

Darrel Wratten

Papers

Buddhism in South Africa : from textual imagination to contextual innovation