Buddhism, International Relief Work, and Civil Society

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Buddhism and International Aid: A Case Study from Post-tsunami Sri Lanka

   • Elizabeth J. Harris

   Pages 1-25

3. Thai Buddhists’ Encounters with International Relief Work in Post-tsunami Thailand

   • Monica Lindberg Falk

   Pages 27-49

4. Buddhism and Relief in Myanmar: Reflections on Relief as a Practice of Dāna

   • Carine Jaquet, Matthew J. Walton

   Pages 51-73

5. Transnational Networks of Dharma and Development: International Aid by Japanese Buddhists and the Revival of Buddhism in Post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia

   • Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya

   Pages 75-99

6. Implications of International Relief Work and Civil Society for Japanese Buddhists Affiliated with Traditional Denominations

   • Hiroko Kawanami

   Pages 101-121

7. International Relief Work and Spirit Cultivation for Tzu Chi Members

   • Jung-Chang Wang

   Pages 123-139

8. Buddhism and Relief Work in Mainland China and Hong Kong

   • Sik Fa Ren

   Pages 141-159

9. Constructing and Contesting Sacred Spaces: International Buddhist Assistance in Bodhgayā

   • Kory Goldberg

   Pages 161-187

10. Afterword

    • Geoffrey Samuel

    Pages 189-207

11. Back Matter

    Pages 209-224

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Natural disasters in Asian countries have brought global attention to the work of local Buddhist communities and groups. Here, the contributors examine local Buddhist communities and international Buddhist organizations engaged in a variety of relief work in countries including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, and Japan.

• Buddhism
• international relief work
• civil society
• socially-engaged Buddhism
• humanistic Buddhism
• Buddhist monks
• Buddhist nuns
• disaster relief
• China
• Nation
• organization
• Transnational

"Before this book was published, little was known about the role of Buddhism in international aid work and disaster relief. Now for the first time, the eight case-studies in this volume document Buddhist-led aid and emergency-relief initiatives in a variety of northern and southern Asian countries. Some describe indigenous responses to regional disasters, while others are concerned with the delivery of assistance by international donors and aid foundations. Collectively they provide evidence of how Buddhist monks and laity are increasingly adopting new and unfamiliar roles as they engage with human problems in today's globalized world. I recommend this timely and relevant volume to anyone interested in engaged Buddhism or the practical application of Buddhist teachings." - Damien Keown, Professor Emeritus of Buddhist Ethics, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK

Elizabeth J Harris, Liverpool Hope University, UK Monica Lindberg Falk, Lund University, Sweden Carine Jaquet, Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia, France Matthew Walton, Oxford University, UK Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya, University of Delhi, India Jung-Chang Wang, Aletheia University, Taiwan Sik Faren, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China Kory Goldberg, Champlain College in St-Lambert, Canada

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