서구 속의 불교, 불교 속의 서구

Abstract

The widespread proliferation of Buddhism in American has garnered a great deal of recent attention from scholars. In its almost 150 year history, Buddhism in the West has developed a unique identity that emerged from the particular influences and challenges upon it by the societies into which it was introduced. This paper begins by addressing how Buddhism was introduced to and accepted by the West via the experiences of travelers and Christian missionaries in the nineteenth century, analyzes the impact that Buddhism has since had on the western intellectual world, and evaluates its meaning and significance in terms of its relative social and cultural contexts. Most recently, the past 50 years have seen Buddhism in America developing into a complex and diverse social phenomena, with the accepted individuated title of American Buddhism. The constituents of American Buddhism are diverse but can be broadly classified into two groups, namely communities comprised primarily of Asian Buddhist immigrants or their descendants on the one hand, and on the other groups of mostly white middle-class students who continue to organize around missionary teachers from Asia. In spite of its origins in a plurality of traditions, American Buddhism has experienced a synthetic transformation of its disparate sources and developed its own unique religious culture, distinct from the ethnic Buddhist traditions that it originated from. A few key characteristics are most identifiable: lay Buddhist practice, value emphasis on family and women, and moral and social concerns that have developed into a cohesive movement now labeled "engaged Buddhism". Certain characteristics of engaged Buddhism, such as the opposition to the use of violence and advocacy of peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect for environmental, economic,and social justice, are now gaining recognition as a legitimate blend of American Buddhism. Much as it was perceived at its inception as providing answers to the social and existential concerns that society was facing, Buddhism today continues to be examined and considered in regard to the modern complexities of present day societies. Although it is not clear where the path of Western Buddhism will lead in the future, the interesting history of its development provides a fresh perspective in understanding the reciprocal flowing of civilizations through such conduits as acceptance, response, and transformation, to influence contemporary Buddhist practice in the East – including Korea.