TY - JOUR

T1 - Religious 'Revival' After Socialism? Eclecticism and Globalisation Amongst Lay Buddhists in Ulaanbaatar

AU - Abrahms-Kavunenko, Saskia Adelle

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - This article questions whether the term ‘revival’ is apt for describing the re- identification of Mongols with Buddhism in Ulaanbaatar. Religious beliefs and practices of lay Buddhists in Ulaanbaatar tend to be characterised by openness, a lack of dogmatism, and eclecticism, rather than a revival of old religiosities. Due to the styles of and preferences for religious education, religious concepts such as reincarnation, enlightenment and karma are often very different to conventional Buddhist interpretations and from one another; meditation is frequently learned about from New Religious Movements rather than from Buddhist institutions; and the concept of Buddha (Burkhan) is being influenced by monotheistic religious ideas.

AB - This article questions whether the term ‘revival’ is apt for describing the re- identification of Mongols with Buddhism in Ulaanbaatar. Religious beliefs and practices of lay Buddhists in Ulaanbaatar tend to be characterised by openness, a lack of dogmatism, and eclecticism, rather than a revival of old religiosities. Due to the styles of and preferences for religious education, religious concepts such as reincarnation, enlightenment and karma are often very different to conventional Buddhist interpretations and from one another; meditation is frequently learned about from New Religious Movements rather than from Buddhist institutions; and the concept of Buddha (Burkhan) is being influenced by monotheistic religious ideas.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 14

SP - 279

EP - 297

JO - Inner Asia

JF - Inner Asia

SN - 1464-8172

IS - 2

ER -