The purpose of this study is to understand the transplantation and sustainability of Tibetan Buddhism through an ethnographic case study of the branches of Rokpa International in Scotland. Using Bourdieu’s (1992) concepts of ‘field’ and ‘habitus’ this thesis examines the organisation and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in Scotland. In so doing this thesis contributes a much needed sociological perspective to transplantation studies of Buddhism to the west. The themes of ‘detraditionalisation’ (Heelas, 1996b) and ‘cognitive surrender’ (Berger, 1973) are explored from a sociological rather than a theological perspective. It is consequently argued that Rokpa Scotland can maintain claims of traditional authenticity by controlling the detraditionalisation process and regulating the flow of knowledge to western participants. However, potential dangers to these claims were identified in the form of participants who adapt teachings outwith the control of the organisation. Thus Rokpa Scotland need to manage different levels and types of participant in a milieu and understanding this milieu helps to understand the role and organisation of religion in the west in general.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:499634 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | McKenzie, John Stephen |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=25219 |
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