Budisma Grupu Dažādība Latvijā: The Diversity of Buddhism in Latvia.
During the 19th-20th century more and more people acquired knowledge of Buddhist teaching due to the gradual spread of the teaching into new areas of the world, particularly into the West. Latvia is not an exception; it is one of those European countries which have joined a process of adaptation of...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | Latvian |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
LU Akadēmiskais apgāds
2014
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| In: |
Cel̜š
Year: 2014, Issue: 64, Pages: 55-72 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | During the 19th-20th century more and more people acquired knowledge of Buddhist teaching due to the gradual spread of the teaching into new areas of the world, particularly into the West. Latvia is not an exception; it is one of those European countries which have joined a process of adaptation of Buddhism in the West. Since the end of 1980s - the beginning of 1990s Buddhist groups have been gradually established in Latvia. Main reasons for this might be the following: 1) socio - political changes that led to the proclamation of religious freedom in Latvia; 2) the deprivation of a religious milieu and creation of religious vacuum in society; 3) increase of spiritual books previously . Altogether, these reasons led to the formation of unofficial religious groups and after restoration of Latvia's independence, some of them became officially registered organizations. The same applied to Buddhism practicing groups; their number has increased over the last twenty years. Currently there are more than ten active Buddhist groups in Latvia's cities which represent a variety of Buddhist teachings. While in various Asian countries there is one dominant Buddhism school, in the West there are often several different Buddhism schools and traditions in one country or even in one city. The feature mentioned above can be referred to Buddhism in contemporary Latvia as well. Plurality and diversity of Buddhism traditions is another common feature in the West; it is proved by the fact that the largest Buddhism traditions have also found their home in Latvia: Mahayana, Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism. First of all, it is Tibetan Buddhism that one of the first brought its ideas to Latvia at the end of 1980s and attracted imagination of those who sought religion at that time. In general, Tibetan Buddhism in Latvia is represented by three of its four orders: Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug. These groups are the biggest both in a number of communities and a number of their adherents. The first of Tibetan Buddhism orders in Latvia is Nyingma that is represented by two Dzogchen teaching groups - Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche's community Padmaling and the center of Patrul Rinpoche. The most widespread order in the West, Kagyu, is represented in Latvia by two of its schools and it consists of several groups. They are Riga's and Daugavpils' Diamond Way Buddhism groups that belong to Karma Kagyu; Drikung Kagyu Dharmachakra centrs, Riga Drikung Ngaden Choling and Sorig which are associated with Drikung Kagyu school. The last Tibetan Buddhism order that came to Latvia at the beginning of the 21st century is Gelug. At present, two meditation centers belong to this order - Ganden and Potalaka. The second Buddhism tradition that has set its roots in Latvia is Mahayana and it is represented by Zen Buddhism schools. Though ideas of Zen Buddhism had already reached Latvia in the middle of 1990s, only in the early 21st century there were successful attempts to establish Zen Buddhism communities. Currently there are two Zen communities in Latvia - groups that represent Kwan Um Zen Buddhism and One Drop Zendo Latvia associated with Rinzai Zen Buddhism School. In comparison to Tibetan and Zen groups, Theravada tradition is represented by fewer groups. The ideas of Theravada Buddhism reached Latvia simultaneously with the teaching of other Buddhism traditions in the middle of 1990s. Nevertheless, it has not attracted a wider interest of society and only one Buddhism group represents Theravada - The Association of Theravada Buddhism in Latvia. Since the establishment of the first Buddhism group in Latvia, Buddhism has gone through a process from being a simple philosophy that existed only in books to becoming a legally practised religion. It is proven by the fact that four Buddhism communities are operating as religious organizations now. At the same time, other groups are organized as societies or cultural organizations. Only in this way it is possible to get some privileges in a country - such as connection with media, possibility to get financial support and other rights. Despite the fact that in comparison to other religious organizations in Latvia the number of Buddhism groups is rather small, there is no doubt, that Buddhism has found its stable place in the religious life of Latvia. In more than twenty years of Buddhism existence, adherents have organized groups whose activity is carried out on different levels. In conclusion it is necessary to point out that Buddhism is successfully developing in Latvia and during the next years the number of groups may only increase. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Cel̜š
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