TY - JOUR

T1 - Atmospheric Buddhism

T2 - How Buddhism is Distributed, Felt, and Moralized in a Repressive Society

AU - Cho, Yasmin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Religious Ethics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Journal of Religious Ethics, Inc.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - A growing number of lay Buddhist practitioners have sought out alternative ways to incorporate Buddhist teachings in their daily practices and make positive changes in society by “doing good” for others. Sometimes recognized as part of “humanistic Buddhism,” this approach emphasizes general morality and focuses on people who need help as a way to fulfill Buddhist teachings in this world. Some Chinese Buddhist practitioners who follow the Tibetan Buddhist tradition also carry out similar humanistic engagements but use more subtle space-making processes and often “brand” these as Buddhist practices. Drawing on the ethnographic observations of lay Buddhist practitioners in urban China, this article examines how urban practitioners promote (middle-class) morality and well-being lifestyles through what I call “atmospheric Buddhism.” Ultimately, the article argues that an alternative mode of Buddhist practice is emerging in Chinese urban environments in order to cope with politically constrained environments.

AB - A growing number of lay Buddhist practitioners have sought out alternative ways to incorporate Buddhist teachings in their daily practices and make positive changes in society by “doing good” for others. Sometimes recognized as part of “humanistic Buddhism,” this approach emphasizes general morality and focuses on people who need help as a way to fulfill Buddhist teachings in this world. Some Chinese Buddhist practitioners who follow the Tibetan Buddhist tradition also carry out similar humanistic engagements but use more subtle space-making processes and often “brand” these as Buddhist practices. Drawing on the ethnographic observations of lay Buddhist practitioners in urban China, this article examines how urban practitioners promote (middle-class) morality and well-being lifestyles through what I call “atmospheric Buddhism.” Ultimately, the article argues that an alternative mode of Buddhist practice is emerging in Chinese urban environments in order to cope with politically constrained environments.

KW - atmospheres

KW - branding Buddhism

KW - Chinese Buddhist practitioners

KW - morality

KW - Tibetan Buddhism

KW - well-being lifestyles

U2 - 10.1111/jore.12458

DO - 10.1111/jore.12458

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85177188150

VL - 51

SP - 701

EP - 719

JO - Journal of Religious Ethics

JF - Journal of Religious Ethics

SN - 0384-9694

IS - 4

ER -