World religions Buddhism (2) - Abstract. The position of Buddhism in the modern world the spread of Buddhism in the modern world

The location where Buddhist traditions of the directions are preserved, the island of Sri Lanka, is also called the "Buddha Island" (Buddhavipa). On this island in I century. BC. A Buddhist canon "TIPITA" was recorded. Lankans believe that the Buddha chose their island to preserve the Buddhist teaching in his original form.

There are several sacred relics for Buddhists. One of the most revered is kept in Kandy in the temple of Dalad Maligawa. This is tooth buddha. According to legend, at the moment of cremation (burning is the usual way of burial in India) Buddha's body, one of those present grabbed the tooth from the fire. Within 8th centuries, the tooth was kept in India, but in the IV century, during civil wars, it was decided to take this relic to a safe place - on Sri Lanka. There in the built beautiful temple it is still kept. You can't see his believers - defending a huge queue, you can look at the golden reliquary (casket for storing this relic) with a shrine. Once a year, on the feast of Perahher, spent in honor of the Tooth Buddha, the tooth in Larz is exported from the temple. However, there is a version that in the XVI century. The Portuguese captured this relic and burned, and in Kandy is a fake. But Buddhists consider it a lie. The "Island of the Buddha" preserved many Buddhist manuscripts, many ancient festivals continue to be carried out.

In the twentieth century, after finding Sri Lanka of Independence, Sri Lanka became referred to as the "Buddhist Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka". In addition to a lion holding a sword on the Lankan flag, in addition to the leaves of the sacred tree Bodhi, under which the Buddha reached enlightenment, and the main color of the flag is orange - the color of the clothes of the Buddhist monk. The Blue Lotus is considered the national flower of the island - the symbol of truth, purity and holiness, with which the Buddha is often depicted.

The entry into office of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Supreme officials is accompanied by Buddhist rituals: the head of the community is driving on their heads a symbol of the Supreme State and Religious Power - tooth of the Buddha. Buddhist monks are members of many political parties, Buddhist public organizations.

Currently on the island of about 8 thousand monasteries and temples. Many people who visited Sri Lanka after the giant tsunami, devastating the island in December 2004, they say that most Buddhist buildings, even surrounded by completely destroyed houses, have almost suffered. Residents attribute this to the intercession of the Buddha. Many people found shelter.

Another region in which Buddhism is the prevailing religion - Indochina Peninsula. The largest communities of believers are in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. In Vietnam, Buddhism of Khainany is spread, in all others - Mahayana.

In Thailand, the Thai king is a patron and defender of the church. There are many Buddhist educational institutions, the main of which are Universities Mahamakut and Maha Chulalongcorn. Buddhist religion and morality enter the training program in secular educational institutions.

In Cambodia, about 90% of the population professes Buddhism. But it was not always so - for example, in 1975 - 1979, when the country's fest in the country, the Buddhist community was banned, the monasteries were closed, and believers were subjected to persecution. Again, Buddhism was recognized as a state religion. In 1990, the number of Sangha is gradually increasing, Buddhist holidays are revived. In the Constitution, Cambodia recorded that the basis of the ideology of the state was the principle of "Nation - Throne - Religion".

Interesting the fate of Buddhism in China: in I century. The first Buddhist monks arrived from the Central Asian countries to the Great Flush way from the Central Asian countries. They were Khainany supporters, but it turned out that Confucianism and Taoism (China's religion) have a huge number of adherents, and for 300-400 years of Buddhists were very few. Later in China, Buddhists became more and more, this was partly due to the dissemination of the Mahayan direction of the Buddhist religion. Under the influence of traditional Chinese religions, many Buddhist schools have emerged. One of the most famous, which appeared in V c., - School Chan. The main emphasis on the achievement of Nirvana in this school was made on not for a long achievement, but to "sudden illumination." To get it, believers were engaged in meditation, the paradoxical tasks solved the paradoxical tasks, they made respiratory and gymnastic exercises (developed, for example, in the art of combat martial arts). It was possible to achieve nirvana and some unworthy behavior - for example, a loud laughter or a sharp sour.

In the twentieth century, Chinese Buddhism was in decline. And if at the beginning of the century it was due to the actions of the ruling Manchurian Qing Dynasty (1640-1911), supporting Tibetan Buddhism, then later - political processes in the most Chinese society. For example, in 1949, the People's Republic of China was formed, in which the state sought to control the Buddhist community. And when the country's "cultural revolution" occurred in the country, Buddhists were persecuted, as well as representatives of other religions. I remember how to my question "Who Jesus Christ is and what is Christianity, asked by Chinese students studying the culture of ancient Russia, they were surprised shrugged:" We do not know. " It was just ten years ago, and students had already had learning experiences in Chinese universities. It turned out that they do not have ideas about other religions, because atheistic ideology and such subjects are promoted in society, such as the "History of Religion", they are not learning.

However, ten years have passed, much in the People's Republic of China has changed, and when in the summer of 2004. I found myself in China and visited a huge Buddhist complex in Harbin, I saw a large number of believers coming there to services, they held in their hands the collections published by typographical way Prayers and chants and pronounced them with monks throughout the time rather long service. Believers were not placed inside the temple and surrounded it from all sides, standing towards him and periodically dropping to her knees. View of hundreds, and maybe thousands of people, in a single impulse of praying and bowls, produced a rather strong impression on me.

By completing this lesson, I want to note that in recent decades the religious practice of Buddhism changes:

On the one hand, an increasing number of believers seeks to simplify the rites - they try to "give a bigger" to the deities - bring

India

Buddhism began to lose influence in India in the VII century, and in the XII century, after the fall of the empire fell, he disappeared from everywhere, except the northernmost areas of Himalayas. At the end of the XIX, there was a revival of Buddhism in India, when the Srilasky Buddhist leader of Anagaric Dharmapala founded with the support of British scientists "Mach Bodhi Society." Their main goal was to restore the Buddhist places of pilgrimage in India, and they were very successful in the construction of temples in all Buddhist places. In all these temples there are monks.

In the fifties of the 20th century, Ambedhar founded the unexpected movement among untouchables. Hundreds of thousands of followers joined the movement to avoid stigma affiliation to this lowest caste. In the last decade, interest in Buddhism also increases among the urban middle class. Now Buddhists account for about 2% of the population of India.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka became the center of Buddhist education since in the third century BC. e. Mahendra, the son of the Indian emperor Ashka, brought Buddhism there. Buddhism on Sri Lanka has the longest history. He also descended during the war, as well as after the XVI century, when the island was colonized and European missionaries began to distribute Christianity.

Buddhism was revived at the end of the XIX century, largely due to the efforts of British scientists and theosophists. As a result, Sri Lankan Buddhism is sometimes called "Protestant Buddhism", as it focuses on academic education, pastoral work of monks with the Mityan community and meditative practices for the laity. In 1948, the country received independence, and since then the revival of interest in Buddhist religion and culture continues.

To date, 70% of Lankans Buddhists are mainly followers of Tharavada tradition. After the thirty-year-old civil war on Sri Lanka, the popularity of nationalist Buddhism increased. Some organizations, such as the Bala Sena Body ("Powerful Buddhist Power"), organize anti-Islamic performances and attacks on moderate Buddhist leaders.

Myanmar (Burma)

Studies have shown that the history of Buddhism in Burma has 2000 years, and now about 85% of the population consider themselves Buddhists. Here is an ancient tradition of a balanced accent on meditation and training for the monastic community, while the laity is distinguished by a huge faith. One of the most famous Burmese Buddhists S. N. Goenka - Merity teacher meditative machinery vipassana.

After the Burma received independence from the UK in 1948, and the Military Government supports Theravada Buddhism. Military regime took Buddhism under strict control, and monasteries where dissidents lived were ruthlessly destroyed. Monks often found themselves in the forefront of political demonstrations against the militarist regime, for example, the uprising of 8888 and the 2007 Shafran revolution.

In the last decade, various nationalist groups appeared who are trying to revive Buddhism and counteract Islam. Monk Ashin Virathu, the leader of the group of 969, calls himself Burmese Bin Laden and offers to boycott Muslim shops. Often, under the guise of Buddhism, there are outbreaks of violence against mosques and Muslim houses. Muslims respond to them by counter attacks, pouring oils into the fire.

Bangladesh

Buddhism was the prevailing religion of this region until the XI century. Now less than 1% of the population of Buddhists; They are focused in the Chittagong Mountain Area near Burma.

Four Buddhist temples are in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and many temples are in eastern villages. However, since they are cut off from Burma, the level of understanding of the teachings and practices is low there.

Thailand

Buddhism began to appear in the empires of Southeast Asia in the V century. e. In Thailand, followed by Tharavad, who was strongly influenced by the local religion and Hinduism, as well as the Buddhism of Mahayana. Unlike Sri Lanka and Burma, there has never been a monastic dedication line for women. Almost 95% of the population of Buddhists.

The Thai monastic community was created following the example of the Thai monarchy: there is a Supreme Patriarch, as well as the Council of Elders. They are responsible for the preservation of tradition clean. Part of the monastic communities lives in the forests, the other part is in the villages. Both those and others are worship and support for the Mijan community.

The benchery monks belonging to the "forest" traditions live in solitude in the jungle and intensively practice meditation, strictly following the monastic rules of discipline. The "rustic" monks mainly memorize the texts and conduct ceremonies for local residents. They also provide laity by protective amulets in accordance with Thai beliefs in various spirits. At the local Buddhist University, intended for the monks, mainly traine in the translation of Buddhist writings from the classic fell on the modern Thai.

Laos

Buddhism for the first time came to Laos in the VII century n. E., And now 90% of the population professes a mixture of Buddhism and animism. With the arrival of the communist regime, the authorities first did not suppress religious rights, but used the Buddhist Sangha for their political goals. Over time, Buddhism has been severely repressions. Since the 1990s, Buddhism is experiencing a revival: most of the Laos are very religious, and most men have at least some experience in the monastery. Most families make food monks and attend temples in full moon days.

Cambodia

Trikhavada Buddhism was the state religion of Cambodia (the old name of the country - Campuccia) from the XIII century, and until now 95% of the population of Buddhists. In the 1970s, Hermer Horn tried to destroy Buddhism and almost succeeded in this. By 1979, almost all the monks were or killed, or sent in references, almost all temples and libraries were destroyed.

After Prince Sihanuk was restored in rights and again became the king, the repression gradually ceased and the interest in Buddhism was revived. Cambodians are also strongly believed in predictors of fate, astrology and world of spirits, and monks often act as healers. In addition, Buddhist monks participate in many different ceremonies, from choosing a name for a child to weddings and funerals.

Vietnam

Buddhism came in Vietnam 2000 years ago, first from India, then - first of all from China. However, in the XV century, he began to lose the location of the ruling class. Revival occurred at the beginning of the 20th century, but in the republican period the police that supported Catholicism counteracted Buddhism. Now Buddhism professionals only 16% of the population, although he remains the most common religion. The government has become less hard to refer to Buddhism, although no church can be independent of the state.

Indonesia and Malaysia

Buddhism came to this region from India about the second century N. e. on trade routes. Buddhism was practiced here together with Hinduism until the XV century, when the last Buddhist Empire was fell - Majapakhit. By the beginning of the XVII century, Islam completely supplanted these religions.

In accordance with Indonesian State Policy panchashila All official religions must confess faith in God. Although Buddhism does not believe in God as an individual person, he is officially recognized, since it approves the existence of Adibudda, the "first Buddha". This issue is considered in Tantre Kalachakra, which was widespread in India about a thousand years ago. Adibudda is an all-leading creator of all visibility, existing out of time and other restrictions. Although it is represented in the form of a symbolic figure, it is not a creature. Adibudda can be discovered in all living beings as the nature of the mind of clear light. On this basis, Buddhism is recognized as one of the five state religions of Indonesia, along with Islam, Hinduism, Protestant and Catholic forms of Christianity.

The monks of Sri Lanka took an active part in the revival of Theravada Buddhism on the island of Bali and in other parts of Indonesia, but this revival was very limited. On the island of Bali, interest in Buddhism was mainly followed by the traditional Balinese mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and the local tradition of spiritualism, while in other parts of Indonesia, the Buddhist audience is about 5% and is mainly represented by the Diaspora of Chinese immigrants. There is also a very minor number of new Indonesian Buddhist schools that combine aspects of Theravada, Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddhism follows 20% of the population of Malaysia, but mostly these are the Chinese. Approximately 50 years ago, there was a decline in Buddhism there, and in 1961, the Buddhist missionary society was founded, designed to distribute Buddhism. In the last decade, there is an increase in the number of Buddhist practitioners, even among young people. Also in Malaysia, many Centers of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayans, who receive generous financial support.

East Asian Buddhism Mahayana Arrow down. Arrow Up.

People's Republic of China

Last 2000, Buddhism played a significant role in Chinese history, and Chinese Buddhism had a significant impact on the spread of Buddhism in East Asia. At the period of the early Dynasty of Tan (618-907), the Golden Age of Buddhism, as well as the development of art and literature.

During the cultural revolution of the 60s and 70s of the twentieth century, most Buddhist monasteries were destroyed and the bulk of educated monks, nuns and teachers were executed or sent to prison. An even more cruel was the persecution of Buddhism in Tibet and inner Mongolia. Thanks to reforms and growth of freedom, interest in traditional religions in China began to appear again. Old temples were restored and new ones were built. Mostly, people from poor and uneducated rustic families left the monasteries, and the level of education remained low. Many temples serve exclusively attractions for tourists, and the monks simply collect money for tickets and support churches clean.

To date, many Chinese are interested in Buddhism, and respect for the Tibetan tradition increases noticeably. Modern research is assessed by the Buddhist population of 20%, and temples around China are actively visited at the time when they are open. People become more rich and busy, and many are trying to avoid stress, referring to the Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is particularly interested in the Han Chinese Chinese, including due to the fact that there is more Tibetan lamas in China.

Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Areas of Residence of the Chinese Diaspora

The traditions of the East Asian Buddhism Mahayana, taking their beginning in China, are most stronger in Taiwan and in Hong Kong. In Taiwan, the monastic community, including monks and nuns, is most developed, and its generously supports the Mijan community. There are Buddhist universities and Buddhist charitable programs. The monastic community of Hong Kong also flourishes. Buddhist communities of the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are focused on holding ceremonies for the wealth of living and well-being of the dead. There are many mediums that are included in the trance and the Buddhist oracles say through them. The laitys are treated for health advice and in the case of psychological problems. Chinese businessmen who manage the "Asian Tigers" economy often make generous monks to make rituals for their financial success. In Taiwan, in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, the number of followers of Tibetan Buddhism is growing.

South Korea

Buddhism came to the Korean peninsula from China in the III century. e. He is still relatively silly, despite the increasingly frequent attacks on the part of fundamentalist Christian organizations. Over the past decade, as a result of these groups, a significant number of Buddhist temples was destroyed or damaged by fire. Buddhists are 23% of the population.

Japan

Japan Buddhism came from Korea in the V century, having a significant impact on Japanese society and culture. Since the XIII century, the Japanese existed a tradition of married temple priests who did not have ban on alcohol consumption. These priests gradually displaced the tradition of monks who give a vow of celibacy. Historically, some Japanese Buddhist trends were extremely nationalist and believed that Japan was a Buddhist paradise. Nowadays, there is also a certain number of fanatical apocalyptic cults, the followers of which call themselves Buddhists, but in fact have a little attitude towards the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

About 40% of the population consider themselves Buddhists, but most of the Japanese combine Buddhism with a traditional Japanese religion of Coto. Rituals associated with the birth of children and weddings are held in accordance with the syntos coins, and Buddhist priests carry out funeral rites.

In Japanese temples, very beautiful; They are also open for tourists, and for believers, although many of them are commerce. For the most part, learning and practice substantially weakened. Juice Gakkay, one of the largest Buddhist organizations, originated in Japan.

Central Asian Buddhism Mahayana Arrow down. Arrow Up.

Tibet

In Tibet, Buddhism appeared in the VII century. For centuries, thanks to the royal patronage and support of the aristocracy, Buddhism firmly entered various sides of the life of Tibetans.

After the occupation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China, Buddhism was brutally repressed. Of the 6500 men's and women's monasteries were destroyed by everything, except 150. The vast majority of educated monks and nuns were either executed, or died in concentration camps. After the cultural revolution, some of the monasteries were restored, but mostly for the former monks, the local population and Tibetans in exile: the government helped restore two or three monasters.

The communist regime of China is atheistic, however, he admits five "recognized religions", among which Buddhism. Although the government talks about non-interference in religious issues, after Dalai Lama recognized one Tibetan boy as the reincarnation of Panchen Lama, and the boy, and his family disappeared. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese government began its own search, finding another boy, half of the Chinese, half the Tibetan. Of which Dalai Lama chose, since then no one has seen.

Today in every men's and women's monastery, as well as in the temples there is own government working group. These are police officers in civilian clothes, "helping" with various tasks. In general, they oversees the monastic community and make reports. Sometimes the number of such working groups is comparable to the monastic community itself. In addition to the intervention of the state Buddhism in Tibet also faces the problem of a shortage of qualified teachers. Monks, nuns and laity want to learn more, but the formation of most teachers is very limited. In the last decade, the government opened next to Lhasa Buddhist "University". This is a school for the young tulk, where they teach Tibetan, calligraphy, medicine and acupuncture, as well as something from Buddhist philosophy. Computer eyelid made Buddhism more accessible to young Tibetans. Many of them participate in Vicat and Weibo groups, where they are divided by Buddhist instructions and stories. The study of Buddhism is considered to be now in the way to emphasize its identity as a "real Tibetan".

Eastern Turkestan

Most Kalmyk monasteries in East Turkestan (Xinjiang) were destroyed during the cultural revolution. Some of them are now restored, but remains relevant even more acute, compared with Tibet, the lack of qualified teachers. New people who recently become monks are disappointed, facing the lack of educational institutions; Many of them have already left a monasticism.

Inner Mongolia.

However, in the worst position in the territory of the People's Republic of China, the Tibetan Buddhists of Inner Mongolia are located. In the days of the cultural revolution, most monasteries were destroyed in its western half. In the eastern half, which was previously part of Manchuria, much was destroyed by the Stalinist troops at the end of World War II, when the Russians helped liberate northern China from the Japanese. Of the 700 monasteries, only 27 has been preserved.

Since the 1980s, the restoration of temples and monasteries began; They are visited not only by Mongols, but also the Han Chinese Chinese.

Mongolia

In Mongolia there were thousands of monasteries. All of them were partially or completely destroyed in 1937 by order of Stalin. In 1944, one of the monasteries in the Ulan Bator formally opened anew, but only as a shown. In the 70s of the twentieth century, a college was opened for monks with a five-year training program, extremely reduced and strong emphasis on the study of Marxism. Monks were allowed to carry out a limited number of rituals for the population. With the fall of communism in 1990, the energetic revival of Buddhism began, which was helped by Tibetans living in exile. Many new monks were sent to India for training. More than 200 monasteries were restored, although in a more modest form.

However, the most significant problem with which Buddhists of Mongolia is faced - these are aggressive Mormon and Baptist Christian missionaries. Arriving under the guise of English teachers,

One of the biggest problems with which Buddhism has encountered Mongolia after 1990, is the arrival of aggressive Mormon, Adventist and Baptist Christian missionaries under the pretext of teaching English. They offer those who appeal to their faith, money and help in teaching children in America. They distribute beautiful free booklets about Jesus, printed on spoken Mongolian. Since more and more young people began to take Christianity, Buddhist organizations began to disseminate information about Buddhism in spoken language, releasing printed materials, television shows and radio programs.

Now the violent appeal to another religion in Mongolia is prohibited. In 2010, 53% of the population were Buddhists, 2.1% of Christians.

Tibetans in exile

The most powerful among the Tibetan traditions of Central Asia is the tradition associated with the community of Tibetan refugees, which formed around His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama since the 1959 national uprising, directed against the military occupation of Tibet, China, lives in Northern India in exile. Thanks to the efforts of this community, most of the main female and male monasteries of Tibet have rebuilt and have a complete educational program for the preparation of scientists of monks, masters of meditation and teachers. Educational and research institutions and publishers have been created to preserve all aspects of each school of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Tibetans in exile helped to revive Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of India, including Ladakh and Sikkim, in Nepal and Bhutan, sending teachers there and restoring the lines of teaching. Many monks and nuns from these seats receive education in Tibetan refugees monasteries.

Nepal

Although most of the Nepalese are Hindus, in this country where the Buddha was born, a significant cultural influence on the part of Buddhism remains. Three ethnic groups - Nevari, Gurungi and Tamandi - practice the formal for these places the form of Nepali Buddhism. In general, Buddhists account for 9% of the population.

Following the mixtures of Buddhism and Hinduism, the Nepalese Buddhist Community is the only one, where caste differences are preserved inside the monasteries. Five hundred years ago, married monks appeared, which became the hereditary kaste temples and those who head the conduct of rituals.

Russia

Three Russian regions where Tibetan Buddhism is traditionally distributed, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia. All monasteries in these regions were completely destroyed by Stalin at the end of the 30s of the twentieth century, with the exception of three partially survived in Buryatia. In the 40s, Stalin opened two shown monastery in Buryatia under the strictest supervision of the KGB. Monks, who previously removed their monastic clothes, began to wear them again as a working uniform - only during the day, for the time of rituals.

After the fall of communism, the active restoration of Buddhism began in all these three regions. Tibetans in exile began to send teachers there, and young monks went to study in India to Tibetan monasteries. In Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia, more than 20 monasteries were restored.

Countries Arrow down. Arrow Up.

A detailed knowledge of Buddhism came to Europe in the XIX century after the colonization of Buddhist countries, thanks to the work of Christian missionaries and scientists. At about the same time, Chinese and Japanese migrant workers began to build temples in North America.

In traditionally, slaughter countries around the world also have various forms of Buddhism. Practitioners can be divided into two main groups: migrants from Asia and practitioners of non-Aian origin. Immigrants from Asia, especially in the United States, Australia and to some extent in Europe, built many temples of their traditions. The main emphasis in these temples is made to disseminate the religious aspect of the practice and maintenance of the Center, which would help the communities of migrants to maintain their cultural identity. More than four million Buddhists live in America, in Europe - more than two million.

Thousands of Buddhist "Dharma Centers" of all traditions exist today in more than 100 countries around the world, on each continent. Most of these centers of Tibetan tradition, Zen and Tharavada have people of non-Aian origin. They are focused on meditation, learning and practicing rituals. Teachers can be both Western people and ethnic Buddhists from Asia countries. The greatest number of such centers is located in the USA, France and Germany. Many serious disciples visit Asia for a deeper study of Dharma. Buddhist educational programs exist in many universities around the world. Currently, dialogue is expanding and the exchange of ideas between Buddhism and other religions. modern science, psychology and medicine. His Holiness Dalai Lama plays a leading role in this process.

Video: Geshe Tashi Cering - "Buddhism in the next 100 years"
To enable subtitles, click on the "Subtitles" icon in the lower right corner of the video window. You can change the subtitle language by clicking on the "Settings" icon.

During its existence, Buddhism has introduced deep roots in Asian countries, where he continues to have a strong influence on public and public life. In many of them, Buddhism is a state religion, and in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, the heads of state are carried out by the Buddhist Church.

In countries where Buddhism is strongly influenced by many monks: it is enough to say that in Cambodia monk is every twentieth man. In Burma. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand monasteries are almost every village. Temples are built on the money collected by monks and believers, and for funds released by the state. Often the population participates in construction by its work. The life of the countryside is closely connected with the monastery. On the days of the holidays, the monastery becomes the center of festive ceremonies. On weekdays, he is a rural school where monks - teachers, and Buddhist books - textbooks. Buddhist monk, until he took off his own, can not be arrested, he cannot be a witness in the Second Court and cannot contact the secular court himself. It cannot be called in the army, he cannot participate in the elections of the authorities in politics in general. Officially not participating in political life, monasticism actually has a very serious impact on it. Monasteries often enjoy great authority than government agencies.

A number of Buddhist authors feel over the spread of Buddhism around the world, considering that the "the great revolution of public thought" can be achieved only by "the displacement of Western materialistic public and individual spiritual values \u200b\u200band the approval of the true values \u200b\u200bbased on the teaching of the Buddha." A whole programs of propaganda of Buddhism are compiled outside of Asia, which are widely applied by a number of international Buddhist organizations. A certain success in European states and the United States has Zen-Buddhism. It is a doctrine that it is possible to achieve enlightenment through contemplation and self-pressing, comprehension of the true essence of the world consonant with moods of some part of youth and intelligentsia. Zen-Buddhism is attractive for them by promising people to achieve full internal independence from a society without care, without making any strict vows, which could violate the usual way to disregard this faith. According to this teaching, a person can achieve internal independence from society, the "complete serenity of the spirit" without much effort, without the transformation of this society, while maintaining his obstacles.

Interest in Buddhism by the world community acutely put in our time the question of the synthesis of Western (rationalistic, subject) culture and eastern (contemplative, non-rationalist) Indo-Buddhist psychoculture. The decision of this issue, as is well known, the agile activities of the Great Russian Intelligents NK was devoted to and E.I. Roerichs. They believed that the synthesis (interaction) of two crops could spiritually enrich the modern culture of mankind, having relived it from the extremes of Western rationalism and from the extremes of Eastern mysticism and psychologism.

To date, the followers of Buddhism in the world in different sources are from 400 to 700 million people. Such a discrepancy in the figures is due to the fact that the census of Buddhists has never been carried out, and individual religious areas, schools and organizations are inclined to overestimate the number of their adherents. The number of followers of Buddhism in the CIS countries (their more in Russia) is approaching 1 million people.

Being a global religion, Buddhism, as they integrate into the culture of countries of their spread itself, became part of this culture, national psychology, the lifestyle of the peoples professing him. All this allows us to consider Buddhism as a religious and philosophical and historical and cultural complex, which gives it possible to approach him and as a religion (a certain denomination), and as philosophy, and as psychology (Buddhism is primarily focused on changing consciousness), and As ideology, and as a cultural phenomenon.

Buddhism traditions of Tharavad South and Southeast Asia

Sri Lanka

Currently, there are a number of countries where Buddhism flourishes, while in others it faces certain difficulties. For example, the tradition of Theravada is the most strong in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma (Myanmar), but rather weak in Laos, Cambodia (Campucci) and Vietnam. From the XVI to the XIX century in Sri Lanka, Buddhism experienced a decline first due to persecution by the Inquisition, and then the fault of the missionaries in the service of the colonial rulers of Christians. Buddhism was revived at the end of the XIX century largely due to the efforts of British scientists and theosophists. As a result, Sri Lanka Buddhism is sometimes called the Protestant Buddhism, as it focuses on the scientific knowledge of the pastoral activity of the monks in relation to the Mijan community and actually in meditative practices for laity, and not just for people in monastic clothes. Vera Miry-Buddhists is quite strong, but sometimes on their part you can hear the expression of discontent about the small number of monks, equally paying attention to both the study of the doctrine and meditative practice.

Indonesia and Malaysia

Monks Sri Lanka took an active part in the revival of Tharavada Buddhism on the island of Bali and in other parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, where he gradually UGAS by the end of the XV century. However, this revival was very limited. On the island of Bali, interest in Buddhism was mainly the followers of the traditional mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and various pagan cults, while in other parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, the Buddhist audience is mainly represented by the Diaspora of Chinese immigrants practicing Buddhism Mahayana. There is also a very slight amount of new Indonesian Buddhist sects, which are a mixture of Chinese and Tibetan traditions with Tharavada.

In accordance with the Indonesian state policy "Panchashil", all religions must confess faith in God. Although Buddhism does not recognize God as an individual personality and therefore is sometimes considered an "atheistic religion", it is officially recognized and resolved, because recognizes the existence of Adibudda, which literally means "initial, or primary Buddha". This question is considered in Kalachakra Tantra, which was widespread in Indonesia about a thousand years ago. Adibudda is the omniscient Creator of the whole manifest, existing out of time, words and other restrictions. Although it is represented in the form of a symbolic figure, in itself it is not a creature, or PER SE person. Adibudda is more abstract and can be discovered in all living beings as the nature of the mind of clear light. On this basis, Buddhism is recognized as one of the five state religions of Indonesia, along with Islam, Hinduism, Protestant and Catholic forms of Christianity.

India

In the areas of India adjacent to Himalayas, approximately the XVII century Buddhism gradually declined. However, at the end of the XIX century, Srilattsians, with the help of British scientists, founded Mach Bodhi society in order to restore Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India, which has achieved essential success. Currently, both the Srilasky tradition and some other Buddhist traditions in each of these places have temple complexes in which monks live and services are being held.

In the fifties of the XX century, in Western India, Ambedkar founded the "unemployed" movement in the environment of representatives of the lower castes, or untouchables. This movement was joined by hundreds of thousands of followers, mainly in order to avoid "stigma" accessories to this lowest caste. Their main goal was to gain political and social rights. Ambedhar died shortly after the start of this "Renaissance". After his death, the move was headed by Sangharakshit - the Englishman, who founded the Order of the Friends of Western Buddhism, created as a new form of the Buddhist community, focused on the Western followers of the Buddha teachings.

Thailand

In Thailand, under the influence of the Thai monarchy model, responsible for preserving the purity of the tradition in the Buddhist monastic community are the Supreme Patriarch and the Council of Elders. There are two types of monastic communities: "staying in the forests" and "living in the villages". Both are worship objects and support for the Mijan community. Nester-free monks relating to the strong "forest" tradition, living in solitude in the jungle and intensively practice meditation. They strictly follow the monastic rules of discipline, which determines their curriculum. Training of the "village" monks consists mainly of learning texts. These monks spend a variety of ceremonies to ensure the well-being of local residents. The "rustic" monks also provide laity by protective amulets in accordance with Thai beliefs in various spirits. At the local Buddhist University, intended for the monks, mainly traine in the translation of Buddhist writings from the classic fell on the modern Thai.

Myanmar (Burma)

In Myanmar (Burma), the military regime took Buddhism under strict control, delivering it to the Special Ministry of Religion. The monasteries were held to ruthless destruction, where dissidents lived, this process was especially intense in the north of the country. Now the government gives major subsidies to the remaining monks, trying to achieve their support and drown out criticism. In Burma, there is an ancient tradition of monasticism, paying equal attention to both meditation and the study, mainly the study of Abhidharma - Buddhist psychology systems, metaphysics and ethics. Until now, there are many monasteries of this tradition, and a strong faith is present in the lairs. Starting from the second half of the XIX century, it is possible under the influence of British colonization, many meditation centers appeared, where the monks and teachers-laity teach the laity, both men and women, the basics of meditation leading to the development of attentive awareness.

Bangladesh

In the South Bangladesh in the mountains along the Birmansk border there are many scattered villages whose residents traditionally follow the Burmese Buddhist tradition. However, since they are cut off from Burma, the level of understanding of the teachings and practices is rather low there.

Laos

In Laos, Buddhism is still studying in rural areas in a traditional way, but monasteries are in a deplorable state due to the consequences of the US-Vietnamese war. The laity still put the foods in their bowls for laying and go to the temples in the days of full moon. Nevertheless, the tradition of meditation is extremely weak. Previously, the monks had to learn Marxism and teach him others, but now they are not obliged to do it. Today, only the formal expression of the dedication of the communist doctrine is needed from the population, and it became much easier to become a monk.

Cambodia

In Cambodia (previously campauchea), Buddhism is experiencing a period of recovery after the persecution and destruction of its sex then, and the limitations are gradually becoming less strict. This process scored power during the Board of Prince Sihanuk. However, still monasticism is allowed to accept only after 30 or 40 years, since the country needs human resources. The head of monasses - Khmer Monk Mach Ghosananda - studied meditation in Thailand, because in Cambodia the art of meditation was completely lost. Now he is trying to restore this practice here. The fact that the Kampuchei remains from the "Forest" tradition, rather related to the pursuit of high social status than the meditation as such.

Vietnam

Although in Vietnam there was never an analogue of the Chinese cultural revolution, Buddhism is still considered the enemy of the state, and the monks continue to challenge the state power and its control over the population. In this country, becoming a monk is very difficult, and many of them still conclude in prison. Only "showing" monasteries are functioning, mainly for propaganda purposes. In the north, where monastic institutions peacefully coexisted with the Communists during the Vietnamese war, the monks are more free. In the south of the country, the authorities belong to the monks more rigidly and suspiciously.

East Asian Buddhism Mahayana

Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Areas of Residence of the Chinese Diaspora

The traditions of East Asian Buddhism Mahayana, originating in China, are most stronger in Taiwan, in Hong Kong and South Korea. In Taiwan, the monastic community is most developed, as it generously sponsors and supports the Mijan community. There are Buddhist universities and Buddhist charitable organizations. The monastic community of Hong Kong also flourishes. Buddhist communities of the Chinese Diaspora in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are focused on holding ceremonies for the well-being of the ancestors and prosperity and wealth now living. There are many mediums that are included in contact with Buddhist oracles, allowing them to communicate with people. Mireans are addressed for consultations on health and psychological problems. Chinese businessmen who are the main driving force, managing economies of "Asian Tigers", often make generous alliating monks to make rituals for their financial success.

Korea

In South Korea, Buddhism still has a certain weight, although it is faced with ever increasing difficulties due to the propagating Protestant Christian movements. There are a large number of monastic communities, monks and nuns of which are supported by the population. The tradition of meditation flourishes, mainly a dream - the Korean form of Zen Buddhism. On the other hand, in North Korea Buddhism is severely suppressed, functioning monasteries there only exist in propaganda purposes.

Japan

In Japan, there are many beautiful temples, most of which are transformed into sources of income and are stored only for tourists and visitors. Although in Japan, you can meet serious practitioners, traditions for the most part are very formalized and weak. Since the XIII century, the Japanese existed a tradition of married temple priests who did not have ban on alcohol consumption. These clergymen gradually displaced the tradition of monks who give a vow of celibacy. Most Japanese are followed by a mixed religion, where Buddhism is closely intertwined with a traditional Japanese religion of Cino. There are clergymen who are executing shintopic rituals for births and weddings and Buddhist for funerals, having a very limited understanding of both. Large companies are trying to introduce some Buddhist meditation techniques for removing staff stress. A kind of large Japanese Buddhist sect has an extensive program of building the so-called pagoda of the world around the globe. There are also a certain number of fanatical apocalyptic cults, followers of which call themselves Buddhists, but in fact they have a very distant attitude towards the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Historically, some Japanese Buddhist traditions were extremely nationalistic and based on faith in the fact that Japan is Buddhist paradise. Such belief comes from the Xotoinist cult of the emperor and the importance of belonging to the Japanese nation. These traditions gave rise to Buddhist political parties whose programs are extremely nationalistic and fundamentalist character.

People's Republic of China

In the inner China, namely in the territories of the PRC, where the ethnic Chinese (National Han) live, most of the Buddhist monasteries were destroyed and the bulk of educated monks, nuns and teachers were executed or sent to the camps during the cultural revolution of the 60s and 70s years of twentieth century. Nevertheless, these processes did not bore such a comprehensive nature, as in the non-Chinese regions, namely in Tibet, inner Mongolia and East Turkestan. To date, in the inner China, many ethnic Chinese are interested in Buddhism, but the main problem is the lack of qualified teachers. Many young people receive dedication to the monks, but his quality leaves much to be desired. Most young people at the end of higher educational institutions prefer to employ and earn money, while those who go to the monasteries mainly occur from poor and / or uneducated families, mainly from the villages. It remained very little experienced persecution from the Communists of qualified elderly monks and nuns who can teach, and there are no middle-generation representatives who would be trained. In many major cities Internal China and Pilgrimage Places There are state Buddhist colleges, the training program in which is designed for two or four years, despite the fact that political education is there part of the curriculum. An insignificant number of ethnic Chinese who have recently adopted monastic vows, learn in these colleges.

In general, in the actual Chinese monasteries, the level of Buddhist education is very low. Currently, believers focus mainly on the physical restoration of Buddhism - the reconstruction of temples, pagodas, statues, and the like, and this requires the cost of time and efforts to attract funds and construction. In some cases, the Chinese government helps with financing the reconstruction of monasteries and temples. As a result, many Buddhist temples have opened now as museums or tourist attractions. Monks act there rather as ticket controllers and service personnel. This creates the appearance of "freedom of religion" - that element of the image, which is now extremely needed by the Beijing authorities. Most restoration work, however, is funded by local residents, sometimes foreign sponsors, and very often and monks themselves. Some of the traditional practices of the cult of ancestors, carried out in the temples to communist persecution, have now resumed. Nevertheless, in some regions of internal China, there is still a small number of operating Chinese monasteries with a high level of Buddhist education and spiritual practice.

Central Asian Buddhism Mahayana

Tibetans in exile

The most powerful among Tibetan traditions of Central Asia is the tradition associated with the Tibetan refugee community, which formed around His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, which since the national uprising of 1959, directed against the military occupation of Tibet by Communist China, lives in Northern India in exile. Thanks to the efforts of these refugees, most of the main women's and male monasteries of Tibet have rebuilt and have a complete educational program for scientists of monks, masters of meditation and teachers. Educational and research institutions and publishers have been created to preserve all aspects of each school of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Tibetans in exile helped to revive Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of India, including Ladakh and Sikkim, in Nepal and Bhutan, sending teachers there and retransmission of lines. Many monks and nuns from these places are educated and brought up in the men's and women's monasteries of Tibetan refugees.

Nepal

Although Sherpa's nationality in the east of Nepal and Tibetan refugees in the central part of the country follow the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, in the nationality of Nevari Valley Kathmandu, there is still a traditional form of Nepalese Buddhism on a limited scale. It is a mixture of late form of Indian Buddhism Mahayana and Hinduism and is the only Buddhist tradition that preserves caste differences inside the monasteries. Starting from the XVI century, monks are allowed to marry. Among the monks there is a hereditary caste of caretakers of temples and people who lead rituals. Only those who come from these castes can perform these functions.

Tibet

The position of Buddhism in the largest Tibet, which the People's Republic of China divided between the five provinces - the Tibetan autonomous region, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan, is still very much smoking. Of the 6500 men's and women's monasteries that existed before 1959, all but 150 were destroyed mainly before the cultural revolution. The vast majority of educated monks and nuns were either executed, or died in concentration camps. One way or another, most monks and nuns forced to remove monastic clothes. Since 1979, the Chinese have resolved the Tibetans to restore their monasteries, and many of them have already been reconstructed. The Chinese government helped restore two or three of them, but the overwhelming majority were recreated at the expense of the former monks, the local population and the Tibetan refugees abroad. Thousands of young people became monks and nuns, but the Chinese government began to create strict restrictions. Many policemen and begged Chinese government, changing monks, spend a thorough check in the monasteries. Monks and nuns often express an open protest against the Chinese politics of a person's freedom, demanding the true autonomy of Tibet and freedom of religion.

Attempts by the Chinese authorities to control Buddhism in Tibet became apparent due to the recent events related to the search for the reincarnation of Panchen Lama. The first Panchen Lama, who lived in the XVII century, was a teacher of the fifth Dalai Lama and is considered the second largest spiritual leader of Tibetans after the Dalai Lama himself. After the death of Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama, his successor is chosen - a child, which is recognized as the reincarnation of its predecessor. This boy is found after consulting with Oracle and carefully examine, checking whether he remembers people and objects from their previous life.

Whereas the Dalai Lama, starting with the fifth Dalai Lama, were both spiritual and secular rulers of Tibet, Panchen Lama has never been political figures of such a scale. Despite this, since the beginning of the 20th century, the Chinese are unsuccessfully trying to make a split into Tibetan society, supporting Panchen Lama as a political opponent of the Dalai Lama.

Manchuri, non-Han Chinese people living in northeastern Asia, managed China from the middle of the XVII to the beginning of the 20th century. They tried to conquer the location of the Mongolian and Tibetan peoples in the sphere of the influence of their empire, externally supporting Tibetan Buddhism, but trying to manipulate its institutions at the same time, control them and transfer their center of influence from Lhasa to Beijing. In the middle of the XVIII century, they proclaimed that only the Manchurian emperor has the right to choose and recognize the reincarnation of Dalai and Panchen-Lam by pulling out the lot from gold urn. Tibetans ignored this statement; The choice of Panchen Lam is always confirmed by the Dalai Lama.

The Communist Government of China, being deliberately atheistic, seemingly should not interfere in the religious life of its citizens. In addition, it condemns the entire policy of previous imperial dynasties, which managed China. Despite this, in 1995, it proclaimed himself a legitimate heir to the Manchurian emperors in their right to find and build the reincarnation of the Tenth Panchen Lama to the throne, which has left lives in 1989. It happened shortly after the abbot of the Panchen Lama monastery has already found reincarnation, and Dalai Lama gave this boy official recognition. Subsequently, this child, together with his family, was taken to Beijing, and no one had heard anything about them. The prisons were imprisoned, and the Panchen Lama Monastery is now under the strict control of the communist authorities. Then the Chinese authorities ordered all high ladies to teachers together and hold the ceremony on which they chose their own reincarnation of Panchen Lama. After that, the President of China met this six-year-old boy and instructed him to be loyal in relation to the Chinese Communist Party.

In addition to the intervention of the Chinese government, the main problem with which Buddhists faces in Tibet is the lack of teachers. The extremely small number of old masters managed to survive after the communist repression. There are also some teachers who received two or maximum four-year education in a fairly limited program in the State Buddhist colleges opened through the efforts of the last Panchen Lama. Although in general in Tibet compared with the internal China case, many monasteries in Tibet are only attractions for tourists, where monks have to work as tickets and service personnel. In general, Tibetans-laity have a very strong faith, but a significant part of young people gradually demoralizes, becoming a victim of unemployment arising from moving to the Tibet of a huge number of ethnic Chinese, as well as as a result of continuously growing supplies from inner China cheap alcohol, heroin, pornography and Billiard tables for gambling.

East Turkestan (Xinjiang)

Most Kalmyk monasteries in East Turkestan were destroyed during the cultural revolution. Some of them are now restored, but remains relevant even more acute compared to the Tibet lack of qualified teachers. Young people who recently become monks are disappointed, facing the lack of educational institutions, and many of them soon leave a monasticism.

Inner Mongolia.

For Tibetan Buddhists living in the People's Republic of China, the worst is the situation in Inner Mongolia. Most monasteries in her western half were destroyed during the cultural revolution. In the eastern half, which used to be part of Manchuria, much has already been destroyed by the Stalinist detachments at the end of World War II, when the Russians helped liberate northern China from the Japanese. The cultural revolution only completed this ruising process. Of the 700 monasteries that previously existed in the inner Mongolia, only 27 were preserved. But unlike Tibet and Eastern Turkestan, almost no effort to restore them were not presented later. As a result of the influx of a huge number of ethnic Chinese and mixed marriages, most local Mongolian population, especially in cities, have a very weak interest in their language, traditional culture or Buddhist religion. Several monasteries are open to attract tourists. There is a small number of young monks, but they practically do not receive any education. In remote areas of the desert Gobi left one or two monasters with monks who are still spending traditional rituals. But among them there is no one younger than seventy years. Unlike the Tibetan regions, where the pastures are rich and nomads have funds to support the restoration of monasteries and contain new monks, nomads of the inner Mongolia of the Gobi desert, even possessing faith, are extremely poor.

Mongolia

In Mongolia itself (outer Mongolia) there were thousands of monasteries. All of them were partially or completely destroyed in 1937 by order of Stalin. In 1946, one of the monasteries in Ulan-Bator formally opened anew, and at the beginning of the 70s, a special school was opened here for monks with a five-year training program, extremely abbreviated and doing strong emphasis on the study of Marxism. Monks were allowed to carry out a limited number of rituals for the population in the field of constant attention from the state. With the fall of communism in 1990, the energetic revival of Buddhism began with the help of Tibetans living in exile in India. Many new monks were sent to Indian monasteries for training. 150 monasteries were either open, either partially reconstructed, and Tibetan teachers from India were invited as mentors. Unlike Tibet, where old monks who removed the monastic clothes did not join the monasteries, and only worked on their reconstructions and supported them, many former monks came to the monasteries in Mongolia. Since most of them did not refuse the nights of the house with their wives and from alcohol consumption, today there is a serious problem among them in compliance with the rules of monastic discipline.

However, the most serious problem with which Buddhists of Mongolia faces today is aggressive American missionaries Mormons and Christian Baptists. Arriving with the aim of teaching English, they offer money and assistance in teaching children in America to those who appeal in their faith. They distribute beautiful free booklets about Jesus, printed on spoken Mongolian, and show campaign films. Buddhists cannot compete with them in propaganda. In Mongolia, there are still no books on Buddhism in a conversational language, there is only on classic, and there is hardly anyone who can translate them, and even if such a person had found, then there would be no money to print these books. Thus, young people and intelligentsia are gradually moving from Buddhism to Christianity.

Russia

Three Russian regions where Tibetan Buddhism is traditionally distributed is in Siberia, near Lake Baikal, Buryatia, also in Siberia, in the north of West Mongolia, - Tuva and North-West the Caspian Sea coast - Kalmykia. Buryats and Kalmyks belong to the Mongolian group, while Tuvintsy - the nationality of Turkic origin. All monasteries in these three regions were completely destroyed by Stalin in the late 1930s of the twentieth century, with the exception of three partially survived in Buryatia. In the late 40s, Stalin opened a re-"showing" monastery in Buryatia under the strictest supervision of the competent authorities. The monks who previously removed their monastic clothes were put on them again as a working uniform and in the afternoon there were certain rituals. Some of them trained in a special spiritual school in Mongolia. After the fall of communism in 1990, the energetic restoration of Buddhism began in all these three regions. Tibetans in exile began to send their teachers there, young monks went to study in India to Tibetan monasteries. In Buryatia, seventeen monasteries-dtsanov are now restored. Here there are the same problems as in Mongolia: the problem of alcohol and the availability of wives from the former monks who returned to the monasteries. However, unlike Mongolian, these monks do not give themselves for monks who comply with celibacy. Currently, plans for the opening of monasteries in Kalmykia and Tuva are being developed. Christian missionaries act in these three regions, but not so actively as in Mongolia.

Residents of many Asian countries with other Buddhist traditions are also interested in Tibetan Buddhism. Lam Teachers from the Tibetan community living in exile in India are often invited to teach to Southeast Asia, Taiwan, in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. Such people admit that the clear statement of the Buddha teachings existing in the Tibetan tradition helps them better understand their own traditions. People also attract complex and colorful Tibetan Buddhist rituals performed for the achievement of prosperity, good health and longevity. Traditionally, choking countries

In traditionally, slaughterhouses around the world also have various forms of Buddhism. Practitioners can be divided into two main groups: immigrants from Asia and practitioners of non-Aian origin. Immigrants from Asia, especially in the United States and Australia, built many ethnic temples. On a smaller scale, this is also true for Canada, Brazil, Peru and some Western European countries, in particular France. The chief emphasis here is made on prayer practice and maintaining a unifying center that helps the immigrant communities to maintain their cultural and national identity.

Buddhist dharma centers of all traditions exist for today more than eighty countries around the world, and they are mostly visited by people of non-Aiasian origin. In Dharma-centers, meditation, training and performing rituals are given the main time. The greatest percentage is the Dharma Centers of the Tibetan Tradition, the traditions of Tharavada and Zen. Teachers in these centers can be both Europeans and ethnic Buddhists from Asia countries. The largest number of such centers is located in the United States, France and Germany. The most serious disciples often visit Asia for a deeper study of Dharma. Buddhist educational programs exist in many universities around the world. Currently, dialogue is expanding and the exchange of ideas between Buddhism and other religions, modern science, psychology and medicine. His Holiness the Dalai Lama plays a leading role in this process.

Since the occurrence of Buddhism, there were three main stages: he began as a monastic community, preaching the flight from reality (Escapism), then turned into a kind of religion of civilization, united by various cultures and traditions of many Asia countries, and finally became a cultural religion, t. e. religion forming culture, differently included in the cultural traditions of many countries and peoples. At the present stage, in Buddhism, it is possible to distinguish the features of a sectarian religion (for example, in countries where Buddhists are forced to hide their religion, as it was in the USSR), and the features of civilization religion (new international buddhist associations of different countries, such as the World Buddhist Brotherhood), and , of course, the features of cultural religion (new Buddhist societies in the West).

Perhaps none of the eastern religions caused such complex and contradictory feelings from Europeans as Buddhism. And this is quite understandable - Buddhism, as it were, challenged all the basic values \u200b\u200bof the Christian European civilization. It did not have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe God-Creator and the Almighty of the Universe, he refused the concept of the soul, there was no religious organization, such a Christian church. And most importantly, instead of paradise bliss and salvation, he offered a believer Nirvana, which takes for full non-existence, nothing. It is not surprising that a man of the West, brought up in Christian traditions, such a religion seemed paradoxical, strange. He saw in it a deviation from the very concept of religion, the sample of which was considered naturally Christianity.

For some Western thinkers, the idea of \u200b\u200bBuddhism as a religion opposite to Christianity, but as common and revered in the world, have become an important weapon of criticism of Western culture, the western system of values \u200b\u200band the most Christianity.

These thinkers include primarily Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche and their followers. It is thanks to them, as well as the founders of new synthetic religious flows, in many respects opposing themselves to Christianity (for example, Elena Blavatskaya and its associate to Colonel Olkottu, the founders of the theosophical society), at the end of the XIX - early XX centuries. Buddhism began to spread in the West and in Russia.

By the end of the 20th century, the West has already experienced a lot of waves of passionate buddhism in different forms, and they all left a noticeable trace in Western culture.

If at the beginning of the XX century. The Europeans were read on the texts of the Pali Canon in the translations of the prominent Buddhas, then after World War II, thanks to Translation E. Konze, the European world met Mahayan Sutra. Approximately at the same time, the famous Japanese buddhist Suzuki discovered for the West Zen, who did not pass the passion and so far.

Buddhism was distributed in most European countries: Buddhist organizations, centers and small groups are available in almost all countries of Western Europe, as well as in individual countries of Eastern Europe. Almost all Western European countries are branches of the International Buddhist Organization "International Juice Gakkay". The oldest in Europe are Buddhist organizations in Germany (since 1903), Great Britain (since 1907), France (since 1929). In Hamburg in 1955, the German Buddhist Union was formed, i.e. Center, uniting Buddhist organizations of the FRG. In France, the society "Friends of Buddhism" was founded. Buddhist Society of Great Britain is considered the largest and most influential organization in Europe. In the UK there are also a Buddhist mission (since 1926), London Buddhist Vihara, Temple of Buddhaladina, Tibetan Center and other societies (only about forty). Many members of Buddhist societies in Europe were famous buddhist, Buddhism preachers.

Nowadays, Tibetan Buddhism is growing. The high authority of the current Dalai Lama, which, because of the persecution of the Chinese authorities, lives in exile - in India, a lot has contributed to the fame of the teachings of the Gelukpa school. All this allows you to say that Buddhism, which has influenced the movement of the hipsters and hippies, on the work of American writers, such as Jerome Sallinger, Jack Keruac and others, has become an integral part of modern Western culture.

In Russia, the influence of Buddhism for a long time practically did not feel, although peoples who confess Buddhism in the Mongolian version (Buryats, Kalmyks, Tuvintsy) live on its territory. Now on the wave of general religious revival there is a revival of Buddhists. Buddhist society, the Buddhist University, are created, the old and new Buddhist temples and monasteries (datsans) are revealed, and a large number of Buddhist literature is published. In both Russian capitals and in a number of other cities, there are centers of several Buddhist traditions at once.

The most influential Buddhist organization - the World Brotherhood of Buddhists established in 1950. Buddhism literature is extensive and includes writings on Pali, Sanskrit, Hybrid Sanskrit, Singalez, Burmese, Khmer, Chinese, Japanese and Tibetan languages.

Development of Buddhism since 1990

In Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva, St. Petersburg, the surviving Buddhist temples are restored and new ones open, educational institutions are being created, Tibetan teachers are invited.

In Russia, Buddhism also acquires popularity among Russian and other peoples.

Currently, many Buddhist schools are represented in Russia: Tharavada, several directions of Mahayana, including the Japanese Zen, Korean dream and almost all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddhism B. Russian Federation Proclaimed one of the four traditional religions for Russia, along with Orthodoxy, Islam Sunni and Judaism.

May 18 - May 19, 2009 in Moscow for the first time in Russia, the Forum "Days of traditional Russian Buddhism" was held. Representatives of Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva took part in this event. Within the framework of the forum, a dialogue between Buddhism and Buddhist practitioners and representatives of the Russian buddist school took place. The forum was held at the N.K. International Museum Center Roerich

Currently there are many Buddhist schools and temples, here are some of them:

Buddadavihara (Full name: Vat Buddadavihara) - House in the village of Gorelovo (St. Petersburg). It belongs to the rights of private ownership of a citizen of Thailand Pira Chatri Hemapandha from October 15, 2006, he declared him by the Buddhist temple.

Etymology

Wat is the Indochinese monastery designation. Buddha Vihara can be translated as "Buddha Abode"

Gusinoozersky Datsan (also Tamchimnsky, Hulunnomar, previously Khambimsky; Tibetan Mongolized name - "Gandamn Darzhalimng") - Buddhist monastery in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia; From 1809 to the 1930s - the residence of Pandito-Hambo Lam, the center of traditional Buddhism in Russia. Monument of history and architecture.

Datsan - Buddhist monastery, University of Russian Buryat. Also in Tibet, Dácanes are called individual "faculties" of Buddhist monasteries.

Before the revolution in Russia, there were 35 Datsanov (32 - in the Trans-Baikal region, 2 - in the Irkutsk province, 1 - in St. Petersburg), currently operates about 30.

Education system in datsan

The largest datsans had three faculties - a common (philosophical - tsanid), medical and tantric (Gü; Jude), in small Dacahn there was only a common faculty; Only monks who received general philosophical training were taken to the Tantric Faculty, and in the group on the study of "Kalachakra Tantra" - only the most capable of tantatrically admitted to the study.

The Canid system assumed a consistent study of five disciplines, which went about fifteen years (as a rule, parents were given to the monasteries of children at a very early age):

1. Logic (Pramana) - according to the writings of Dharmakirti.

2. Paramita (path of Mahayana) - by the text of Maitrey-Asangi "Abhisataya Maidenkar").

3. Madhjamak (on the Treatment of Chandrakiti "Madhyamakavatar").

4. Vina (primarily vina Mulasarvastivadinov).

5. Abhidharma (on Abhidharmakosha, Vasubandhu and Abhidharmasamuchki and Abhidharmasamuchki, Asangi).

Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg (Modern Official Title: St. Petersburg Buddhist Temple "Datsan Gunzhechynei") - the first in Europe of the Buddhist temple.

History

A representative of the Dalai Lama in Russia Agvan Dorzhiev received permission to build a temple in the capital in 1900. The construction of the construction was donated by the Dalai Lama XIII, Agrian Dorzhiev, and also collected by Buddhists of the Russian Empire. The temple was built by architect G.V. Baranovsky in accordance with the canons of Tibetan architecture. For scientific leadership, the construction of scientists-orientalists, which included V.V. Radlov, S.F. Oldenburg, E.E. Ukhtomsky, V.L. Kvyvka, A.D. Rudnev, F.I. Shcherbatskaya, N.K. Roerich, V.P. Schneider. Construction continued from 1909 to 1915, but the first services in the temple began in 1913. The consecration of the temple took place on August 10, 1915. The abbot was Lama Agvan Lobsan Dorzhiev.

In 1919, the temple was plundered. In 1924, again began to function until 1935, when the temple was closed, and Buddhist monks were repressed.

During the Great Patriotic War A military radio station was arranged in the temple. It remained in the building until the 1960s, was used as a "muffler". On November 25, 1968, the building was declared a local architectural monument. On July 9, 1990, the decision of the Lengorsovet executive committee was transferred to Buddhists.

Golden Abode Buddha Shakyamuni (Kulm. Burhn Baghshin Altal C? M) - The largest Buddhist Temple of the Republic of Kalmykia and Europe [source is not specified 96 days]. Consecrated on December 27, 2005. In the temple there is the highest buddha statue in Europe.

Ivolgimn Dachamn "Hambamin Sumyam"(Also" Gandamn Dolch Choinhorlimn "; Buryat. T? T? HES Bayesgalantai? Liza Nomoy X? RDIN HID -" Monastery Wheel of the exercise, bringing happiness and full joy ") - the large Buddhist monastery complex, the center of Buddhism of Russia, the spiritual capital of the Buddhist traditional Sangha Russia, a monument of history and architecture. Located in the Republic of Buryatia in the village of Upper Oriole.

There is also the Russian Association of Buddhists of the School of Karma Kague.

Centralized religious organization "Russian Association of Buddhist School of Karma Kagyu School" (previously called International, Further - Association) was established in 1993 by Buddhist centers and groups of Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the post-Soviet space for the preservation, development and distribution of Buddhism of the Karma Kagia school and diverse Assistance to our centers in their work, the fact that the stationery Novoya is called assistance to the associations that are part of the Association, in the implementation of the right to freedom of religion.

It is managed by democratically: the highest body - the conference of representatives of the centers, and in the intervals between the conferences - the Council of these representatives, the permanent member of which is Lama Ole Nidal. For representation in various institutions and signing different papers there is a president. Headquarters Association (and Legal Address) is located in St. Petersburg.

The Association is carried out by the coordinatin-information organizer-Communication and other unifying "use" functions - in all that concerns not one, and many or all centers - schedule travel of teachers and a device of large courses, information support, publication of literature, assistance in construction projects.

With the yield in October 1997, a new religious law prohibiting the full activity of religious associations, existing for less than 15 years in this place or not belonging to any centralized organization, the association has another important official role. Association, as a centralized All-Russian religious organization recognized as traditional at the government level, establishes new centers and confirms the belonging of the already existing on the Buddhist tradition, which is the basis for their state registration.

The magazine "Buddhism of Russia" is devoted to the history and modern situation of Buddhism in Russia, publication and explanation of Buddhist texts, supporting the non-violent resistance of the Tibetan people by the Chinese occupying regime. On the site, in addition to the archive of the most interesting materials of the journal emerging since 1992, are posted the most relevant from the current news of Buddhism.

Journal "Buddhism.ru"

Published by the Religious Organization The Russian Association of Buddhists of the Karma Kaguey School since 1994, it turns out twice a year.

In each room you will find materials on the theory and practice of Buddhism, the work of Karma Kague, the lives of modern Russian and Western Buddhists.

In the category "Buddodology" regularly published works by famous historians and oriental scientists. The rubric "Art" provides an opportunity to plunge into the world of Buddhist painting and sculpture, and "rain wisdom" is the masterpieces of Indian and Tibetan spiritual poetry.

Materials on the theme "Buddhism and Science" show the relationship of an ancient teaching about the nature of the mind with the latest discoveries in science.

Not only magazines are produced, but books, such as the books of the Publishing House "Diamond Path":

Lama Ole Nidal "What is everything. Buddha's teachings in modern life "

Lama Ole Nidal "The Depth of the Slavic mind. Buddhism in matters and answers. Volume I »

V.P. Androsov "Buddhist classics of ancient India. Word of Buddha and Treatises in Nagarjuna "

Kalu Rinpoche "We are all possessing the nature of the Buddha"

- "Vajrayana Buddhism in Russia: history and modernity", a collection of articles

Audiobook "How is everything. Lama Ola Nidal

Art Projects.

In early 2011, it is planned to publish the Russian-English version of the illustrated book "Space and Bliss", released in 2004 in the Buddhist publishing house of Wuppertal (Germany) in German and english ("Raum & Freude, Space & Bliss")

Photo exhibition "Buddhism in the modern world"

The opening of the exhibition took place within the framework of the III International Festival "Buddhism.ru", which was held in October 2008 in St. Petersburg. The exposition is represented by three sections, such as: "The tradition of live experience from the teacher to the student", "symbolism of the Buddha-aspects" and "Buddhist stupes of the world and happiness on earth." All work performed by professional photographers, which are also practicing Buddhists.

And here are some building projects:

Stupa enlightenment in Elista

In 1995, during the visit of Shamar Rinpoche to Russia, it was decided to build a stue of enlightenment in the capital of Kalmykia - a monument, symbolizing the enlightened mind of the Buddha.

In the autumn of 1998, construction under the guidance of qualified llamas began.

The solemn opening of the stupa in Elista occurred on July 28, 1999. The opening and sanctification ceremony spent Cechu Rinpoche himself. At the opening there were about 2,500 local and 500 visitors Buddhists.

City Center in Vladivostok

The epic of the construction of the center of the center began in 1995 with the purchase of a plot located on the highest hill of the city. From this place offers a fantastic view of the Golden Horn bay, the central harbor of Vladivostok and the Japanese Sea.

Altai ritric center

In Altai, a center for meditation courses is being built near the city of Gorno Ltai. The idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a place for practicing in the mountains of Altai arose simultaneously with the appearance in the Novosibirsk a meditation group Kague - students of Lama Ole Nidala.

The Nizhny Novgorod Buddhist Center of the Diamond Way is building a two-story building with a residential semi-breeding room and a flat operated roof, the project is made by the Nizhny Novgorod architect.

And of course the city center in Krasnoyarsk.

During the Mahamudra Course in 2002 Lama Ole blessed the purchase of a land plot of about 15 acres. From this place opens a breathtaking view of the western part of the city, Sayan and Yenisei. A new building is a three-story building, oriented exactly on the sides of the world.

Appointment of these centers - to give the opportunity to all interested increasing to get acquainted with modern Buddhism Diamond Way, and the opportunity to start practicing with them.