Buddhist Revitalization and Chinese Religions in Malaysia

Description

Buddhist Revitalization and Chinese Religions in Malaysia tells the story of how a minority community comes to grips with the challenges of modernity, history, globalization, and cultural assertion in an ever-changing Malaysia. It captures the religious connection, transformation, and tension within a complex traditional belief system in a multi-religious society. In particular, the book revolves around a discussion on the religious revitalization of Chinese Buddhism in modern Malaysia. This Buddhist revitalization movement is intertwined with various forces, such as colonialism, religious transnationalism, and global capitalism. Reformist Buddhists have helped to remake Malaysia’s urban-dwelling Chinese community and have provided an exit option in the Malay and Muslim majority nation state. As Malaysia modernizes, there have been increasing efforts by certain segments of the country’s ethnic Chinese Buddhist population to separate Buddhism from popular Chinese religions. Nevertheless, these reformist groups face counterforces from traditional Chinese religionists within the context of the cultural complexity of the Chinese belief system. Cover Table of Contents Abbreviations List of Chinese Characters Orthography 1. Introduction The Origins of Buddhist Revitalization Colonization and Modern Religion Buddhist Modernism and Chinese Religions The Flexible Chinese Attitude towards Religions Buddhism in the Contestation of Religious Proselytizing in Malaysia The Transnational Reconnection of Mahayana Buddhism Fieldwork Chapter Overviews 2. A Brief History of Buddhist Transnational Connections Theravada Buddhist Communities in Malaya Thai Buddhist Temples and Their Influence on Chinese Communities Burmese Temples and Their Influence on Chinese Communities Sinhalese Temples and Their Influence on Chinese Communities Early Mahayana Buddhism in Malaya Kek Lok Si (Temple of Paradise) The Penang Buddhist Association (PBA) Pan-Asian Phenomena of Buddhist Modernism Reformed Buddhism: Thai Lineage Buddhist Modernism: Sinhalese Lineage Ren Sheng Fo Jiao (Buddhism for Human Life): Mahayana Lineage Summary 3. Reforming Chinese Buddhism through the Zheng Xin (Right Faith) Movement The Discourse of Zheng Xin Zheng Xin in the Malaysian Chinese Buddhist Context Defending Zheng Xin Buddhism in Malaysia Conflict with the Unity Sect (Yi Guan Dao) Buddhicizing the Hungry Ghost Festival The Role of the MBA Formalization of Taking Refuge Ceremony The Malaysian Buddhist Institute Malaysian Buddhist Examination Syndicate (MBES) The Buddhist Youth Movement and Zheng Xin Buddhism Venerable Sumangalo: The Father of the Malaysian Buddhist Youth Movement The YBAM and Zheng Xin Buddhism The YBAM Network’s Promotion of Zheng Xin Buddhism Summary 4. New Transnational Connections with Taiwan Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Merits Society A Brief History of Tzu Chi in Taiwan A Brief History of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia Tzu Chi and Malaysian Buddhism Tzu Chi as a Humanitarian Corporation Mobilization of Malaysian Chinese Buddhists in Volunteer Work Charity Projects of Tzu Chi Malaysia Recycling Project Mass Participation Shifting of Buddhist Cosmologies Reinventing the Tradition of Self-Cultivation Practices Tzu Chi’s Pragmatism Laity Oriented Fo Guang Shan A Brief History of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan A Brief History of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia Fo Guang Shan and Malaysian Buddhism Fo Guang Shan and the Chinese Mass Media in Malaysia Fo Guang Shan’s Vision of a Buddhist Popular Culture Buddhist Education Differences between Tzu Chi and Fo Guang Shan Similarity of the Esthetics of Religious Space and Material Esthetics of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia’s Temple Function and Use of Jing Si Books & Cafe Summary 5. Remaking Chinese Buddhists Chinese Communities and Buddhism in Malaysia The Emergence of Second-Generation Religious Leaders: A Case of Venerable Chi Chern Chi Chern and Yinshun Chi Chern and Meditation Camps Chi Chern’s Publications The Puzhao Buddhist Vihara Controversy Cultural Reformation in Chinese Communities Chi Chern’s Vision for the Malaysian Chinese Communities and Buddhism Political Engagement of the Buddhist Community The Experience of Fo Guang Shan’s Celebration: Chinese New Year Lantern and Floral Festival Tzu Chi’s Chinese New Year Relief The Declining Role of Chinese Associations Transethnic Solidarities Exit Option Revisited Summary 6. Counterforces of Buddhist Revitalization Dreams about My Father Case 2: A Battle between Traditional Chinese Religion and Buddhism at Kampung Baru Jenjarom Case 3: The Urban Miracle of the Talking Buddha Statues Multiple Counterforces to Buddhist Revitalization Counterforces within Chinese Buddhism The Relaxation of Political Correctness in Zheng Xin Buddhism The Politics of Buddhist Unity Wesak Day Celebrations Statistical Legitimacy Summary 7. Conclusion Future Research Appendices Appendix 1: Song of Triple Gem Appendix 2: YBAM’s Affiliate Members Bibliography Index List of Tables Table 4.1 Differences between Tzu Chi and Fo Guang Shan Table 6.1 The distribution of religion among ethnic Chinese in Peninsular Malaysia, 1970 and 1980 (by percentage) Table 6.2 The distribution of religion among ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, 1991 and 2000 (by percentage)