BUDDHISM CASE STUDY
"Buddhism - continuity, change, globalisation"
Since Buddhism was established some 2500 years ago, much has changed and much has stayed the same.
Buddha remains the essential being of knowledge and faith, though some of his teachings have been modified. Though Buddha emphasised equality between the sexes, this ideology has changed throughout the centuries, as there is evident discrimination towards females and nuns. This has come about because of the seemingly natural predisposition of males to want to dominate. At the Nan Tien Temple, we did not see many monks around because they were elsewhere, doing more important things, the nuns were left to teach the sch ...view middle of the document...
Bhikku Bodhi says that "From a multitude of loosely connected nation-states it has quickly evolved into a tightly knit global community linked together by rapid means of transportation and instantaneous media of communication " Bhikku Bodhi says that the world has become a "global marketplace." He believes that Buddha's teachings should enable people to overcome the symptoms of globalisation - "greed, hatred and delusion." So in this way we see one Buddhist who refuses to be globalised, and thus proving that globalisation has had different impacts on Buddhism as a religion.
Venerable P.A. Payutto says that technology is positive if it follows 3 criterion : "1. Technology which is moderate.
2. Technology which is used for creating benefit.
3. Technology which serves to develop understanding and improve the human being. "
When visiting the Buddhist Temple I observed quite a few technological aspects that I wouldn't have expected, though I believe that it matched Venerable Payutto's guidelines. In the main shrine, the walls were lit with thousands of tiny lights, and the whole establishment...
