1. Author Affiliation: The Education University of Hong Kong.
2. Religions 2022, 13(1), 61.
關鍵詞
Chan; transnational meditation; Han Chinese; nuns; women
摘要
This paper examines how the Buddhist revival, the Chan revival, and recent popularity of transnational meditation practices have facilitated Chinese women practicing Buddhist meditation in contemporary China. With the influence of the opening of China and growing transnational networks, there has been an increasing number of Han Chinese monastics and lay people practicing transnational meditation, such as Samādhi, vipassanā and mindfulness, in the past two decades. Despite the restriction of accessing Chan halls at monasteries, some Chinese nuns and laywomen have traveled to learn meditation in different parts of China, and international meditation centers in Southeast Asia to study with yogis from all over the world. Surprisingly some returned female travelers have taken significant roles in organizing meditation retreats, and establishing meditation centers and meditation halls. Through examining some ethnographic cases of Chinese nuns and laywomen, this paper argues that the transnational meditation movement has an impact not only on gender equality, especially concerning Chinese women practicing meditation, but also on the development of contemporary Chinese Buddhism. The significant role of Chinese female meditators in promoting Buddhist meditation can reflect a trend of re-positioning the Chan School in contemporary China.
目次
Abstract 1 Keywords 1 1. Introduction 1 2. Buddhist Revival and “Chan Fever” Following the Opening and Market Reforms 3 3. Spiritual Potential of Women in the Theravada Tradition and the Chan School 5 4. Women Learning Transnational Meditation in Mainland China 9 5. Chinese Women Traveling to Learn Transnational Meditation in Southeast Asia 11 5.1. The Case of Laywoman Yaozhen 12 5.2. The Case of Bhikṣuṇī Rongdao 13 5.3. The Case of Precept Nun Khema 14 6. Establishing Transnational Meditation Centers, Public Chan Halls and Female Chan Halls at Nunneries 16 7. Conclusions 19 Abbreviations 21 Notes 22 References 25
