Dawning of Buddhism in the West: Modern and Postmodern Buddhism

Abstract

Number of those in the West who relate with Buddhist theories and practices in various ways without adapting Buddhism as a religion are rapidly rising. In this research, in order to contribute to a better comprehension of the place Buddhism occupies in the West, we aim to shed lights on the background of the contemporary situation by examining the adaptation periods of Buddhism since it was introduced to the West in the 19th century. First, we discuss reading of Buddhism as a 'rational' and 'scientific' tradition when the modernism had a high prestige and the conditions which caused these modernist readings. Then, we look into the cultural situations both in the West and Asia by pointing out some important people who were effective in this period. The last point we pay attention is new turns since the 1960s and the 'pragmatic' Buddhism as the result of these new turns. As a result, we argue that Buddhism which has been adopted to modern values of the West and pragmatic purposes of post-modern life style easily fit into various life and belief systems.