Buddhism on the Internet: Opportunities and Obstacles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2021.2.12Keywords:
religion on the Internet; Buddhism on the Internet; Buddhist practices; Tantra; Zen; Mahayana; Theravada; Buddhism of RussiaAbstract
The article considers the principles of the Buddhist schools in Russia (such as the Tibetan, Far Eastern and Southern ones) and their influence on the development and dissemination of Buddhist teaching in the cyberspace. The authors discuss the activities of Buddhist communities in the Russian segment of the Internet that vary from uploading text and media content to simulation of joint practices through real-time streaming. They try to identify the reasons why various Buddhist communities have different degrees of involvement in assimilating the Web. For instance, due to the closed nature of certain tantric teachings, Tibetan Buddhism prevents the communities of this tradition from using the Internet, while the Far Eastern tradition focuses on live contact with the teacher. In turn, Southern Buddhism — as a result of its features, such as the priority of textual cognition — has advantages in using the Internet space.
The authors also examine how Russia’s Buddhist communities, including traditional ones, have adapted to the transition to the online environment in response to the global emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the leaders of Buddhism have focused more on global (especially ecological) problems rather than increasing the number of followers or spreading Buddhist practices.
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Published
How to Cite
2021, № 2. С. 145-155. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25178/nit.2021.2.12
For citation:
Dondukov B. Ts. and Dondukova G. P. Buddizm v Internete: vozmozhnosti i prepiatstviia [Buddhism on the Internet:
Opportunities and Obstacles]. New Research of Tuva, 2021, no. 2, pp. 145-155. (In Russ.). DOI: https://www.doi.
org/10.25178/nit.2021.2.12
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Author Biographies
Bato Ts. Dondukov, East Siberia State University of Technology and Management
PhD in Culture and Religion Studies, Senior Research Assistant, Department of Organization and Management of Scientific Research, East Siberia State University of Technology and Management.
Postal address: 40в, Klyuchevskaya St., 670013 Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation.
Tel.: +7 (3012) 43-14-15.
E-mail: dondukovb@gmail.com
Galina P. Dondukova, East Siberia State University of Technology and Management
PhD in Literary Studies, Candidate of Philology, Senior Research Assistant, Department of Organization and Management of Scientific Researches, East Siberia State University of Technology and Management.
Postal address: 40в, Klyuchevskaya St., 670013 Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation.
Tel.: +7 (3012) 43-14-15.
E-mail: galina.dondukova11@gmail.com
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