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...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteur principal: Ferguson, Karen (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
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Publié: [publisher not identified] 2022
Dans: Journal of global buddhism
Année: 2022, Volume: 23, Numéro: 2, Pages: 203-218
Sujets / Chaînes de mots-clés standardisés:B Kloster Knutsford / Theravāda / Vie consacrée / Converti / Don / Mission / Histoire 1994-2021
RelBib Classification:AD Sociologie des religions
AF Géographie religieuse
AG Vie religieuse
BL Bouddhisme
KBQ Amérique du Nord
KCA Monachisme; ordres religieux
RB Ministère ecclésiastique
RJ Mission
TK Époque contemporaine
Sujets non-standardisés:B Theravada Buddhism
B forest monasteries
B Buddhism in Canada
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Résumé: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.
ISSN:1527-6457
Contient:Enthalten in: Journal of global buddhism
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.26034/lu.jgb.2022.3030