불교를 위한 새로운 터전-미국 불교시설의 유형과 환경

Abstract

In this article, I will investigate the characteristics of American Buddhism and the types and environments of American Buddhist Centers in order to have a comparative stance for solving a current issue of Korean Buddhism on the preservation of the environment of Buddhist temples. While a divine and most important place in other religions is a place of the leader's birth or a place of epiphany, a religious place in Buddhism is decided by one's attainment of awakening. Therefore in Buddhism every place could be a divine place, because everyone can attain Buddhahood. Not only the place of Buddha's Awakening but also the places where his pupils practice Buddhism are considered as a religious place. As a result, while the architectural structure in other religions is focused on the sacred statues, architectural style, or a space setting of religious constructions, Buddhism, first and foremost, considers the function for practice and environment for living of practitioner. In American Buddhism, the place and architectural style of Buddhist centers are decided by the characteristics of Buddhist communities and their practices. According to the practice and members of Buddhist community, there are three types of Buddhism in America, which are convert Buddhism, ethnic Buddhism and new Buddhism like Sokagakai group from Japan. This difference brought the difference of style and function of Buddhist construction. Ethnic Buddhist Center adapted their traditional style, but convert Buddhist made new hybrid structure which mixed Asian traditional style with modern style. They lent an office in a commercial building and change a farm or a catholic church into Buddhist centers. They lent sometimes a chapel in universities or colleges for temporal uses. The main function of these center is meditation for laypeople. Recently as Buddhism becomes more popular in the U.S., the counter-cultural characteristic of early American Buddhism is gradually disappearing and Zen centers in downtown and Retreat centers in a suburb are preferred rather than a Buddhist center in remote coner of the country. Although American style of Buddhist centers is not yet developed, it is possible to talk about the characteristic of these constructions. The constructions and its environment make images of spiritual relaxation, peace, and loving-kindness. Generally speaking, an architecture creates not only physical environment but also culture images. Now Buddhist Centers in America can contribute more than the practical need for propagating Buddhism and make a new religious Self for American. From the perspective of place, American Buddhist Centers have an advantage which Korean Buddhist temples do not have; a place centered on meditation. The concern for this function is most needed for preservation of the environment of Korean Buddhist temples.