A Monastery for Laypeople: Birken Forest Monastery and the Monasticization of Convert Theravada in Cascadia
Theravada as practiced by most converts in the West is distinguished by the absence of monasticism, its dominant institution. Nevertheless, Thai Forest monasticism has managed to gain a foothold in the convert West, thanks to the efforts of convert monastics trained in Thailand. This article analyze...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2022
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| In: |
Journal of global buddhism
Year: 2022, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 203-218 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Kloster Knutsford
/ Theravada
/ Religious life
/ Convert
/ Fund raising
/ Mission (international law
/ History 1994-2021
|
| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AF Geography of religion AG Religious life; material religion BL Buddhism KBQ North America KCA Monasticism; religious orders RB Church office; congregation RJ Mission; missiology TK Recent history |
| Further subjects: | B
Theravada Buddhism
B forest monasteries B Buddhism in Canada |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Theravada as practiced by most converts in the West is distinguished by the absence of monasticism, its dominant institution. Nevertheless, Thai Forest monasticism has managed to gain a foothold in the convert West, thanks to the efforts of convert monastics trained in Thailand. This article analyzes the missionary project to "monasticize" Western lay converts through the history of Birken Forest Monastery in British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1994. To establish a monastery in Birken’s isolated, non-Buddhist environs, the abbot, Ajahn Sona in effect created a lay village to attract converts to and to teach them their role in orthodox Thai Forest monasticism. The all-consuming nature of the monasticization project among laypeople has cut short the training of a homegrown Sangha at Birken, demonstrating the challenges of establishing a domestic convert monasticism and the continuing dominance of the laity in North American Theravada. |
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| ISSN: | 1527-6457 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of global buddhism
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.26034/lu.jgb.2022.3030 |
