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How do contemporary Westerners and Tibetans understand not only what it means to be 'Buddhist', but what it means to be hailed as one from 'the West' or from 'Tibet'? This anthropological study examines the encounter between Western travellers and Tibetan exiles in Bodhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal and analyses the importance of Buddhism in discussions of political, cultural and religious identity.
Based on extensive field research in Nepal, Buddhism Observed questions traditional assumptions about Buddhism and examines the rarely considered phenomenon of Western conversions to a non-Western religion. Scholars of Anthropology, Religion and Cultural Studies will find here a refreshing insight into how to approach 'other' societies, religions and cultures.
List of contents
Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Emanating bodies in the transnational terrain; Chapter 3 Commodities, identities and the aura of the Other; Chapter 4 Monasteries, patrons and the presence of money in a spiritualized economy; Chapter 5 Talking about monks; Chapter 6 Identifying narratives; Chapter 7 Producing (Western) Buddhists; Chapter 8 Dharma and difference; Chapter 9 Tibetan Buddhism; Notes; Bibliography; Index;
About the author
Peter Moran is Director of academic programs in Kathmandu for both Trinity College, USA and the International Honors Program, Boston University, USA. He is also the academic director at the Centre for Buddhist Studies at Kathmandu University.
Summary
This anthropological study examines the encounter between Western travellers and Tibetan exiles in Bodhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu and analyzes the importance of Buddhism in discussions of political, cultural and religious identity.
