Buddhist Monasticism and Lay Society

Dear Colleagues,

While there has been a great deal of research into the philosophical, historical and philological development of Buddhism, the role of its main driving force – monastics – and the nature of their relationships with lay Buddhists have, until recently, attracted less attention. Of course, some exceptional masters and monastic travellers have been studied in detail, and their role in the development of Buddhism has been extensively discussed. Overall, however, Buddhist monastics in general and the manner in which they have engaged with the rest of society have been much less studied.

This volume focuses on Buddhist monastics’ interactions with lay society, both historically and in the contemporary world. Gregory Schopen has published a number of inspiring articles on this topic (such as those that appear in the anthology Buddhist Nuns, Monks, and Other Worldly Matters, 2014), while Shayne Clarke’s Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticisms (2013), Hao Chunwen’s work on Dunhuang, and an intriguing volume on Buddhism and law, edited by Rebecca French and Mark Nathan (2014), are also noteworthy. Much remains to be said, however, particularly on monastics’ and religious lay people’s attempts to establish significant political, social and cultural roles for themselves within wider society. Steven Vanderputten has addressed this issue in his work on European female monasticism (Dark Age Nunneries, 2018), which focuses on Roman Catholic communities’ attempts to preserve or even expand their influence by shaping the attitudes and behaviour of the laity, sometimes against the expectations and wishes of secular and indeed religious authorities. This volume aims to do much the same with respect to Buddhist monastics’ efforts to gain favour among both the common people and the elite. It includes contributions on Buddhist communities and individual actors who have engaged with lay society throughout history, as well as comparative essays that frame questions of active engagement across a number of regional settings or with reference to other religious traditions.

Prof. Ann Heirman
Guest Editor

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• Buddhist monasticism
• Buddhist monastics
• Buddhist agency
• Buddhist laity