Buddhism, International Relief Work, and Civil Society [Hardcover]

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.1. Buddhism and International Aid: A Case Study from Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka; Elizabeth J Harris 2. Thai Buddhists' Encounters with International Relief Work in Post-Tsunami Thailand; Monica Lindberg Falk 3. Buddhism and Relief in Myanmar: Reflections on Relief as a Practice of D?na; Carine Jaquet and Matthew Walton 4. Transnational Networks of Dharma and Development: International Aid by Japanese Buddhists and the Revival of Buddhism in Post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia; Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya 5. Implications of International Relief Work and Civil Society for Japanese Buddhists Affiliated with Traditional Denominations; Hiroko Kawanami 6. International Relief Work and Spirit Cultivation for Tzu Chi Members; Jung-Chang Wang 7. Buddhism and Relief Work in Mainland China and Hong Kong; Sik Faren 8. Constructing and Contesting Sacred Spaces: International Buddhist Assistance in Bodhgay?; Kory Goldberg Afterword; Geoffrey Samuel

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 prals~