Traditions and Modernization of Buddhism in Russia: from Ethnic Consolidation to Postsecular Challenges

The relevance of studying contemporary Russian Buddhism is determined by its position among traditional religious denominations in Russia. The goal is to identify the specificities of coexistence of various forms of Russian Buddhism from the perspective of the balance between tradition and modernization. To achieve this goal the following objectives were set: (1) to establish the main directions for activating the social component of the activities of Buddhist organizations; (2) to systematize information on the influence of digital technologies on Russian Buddhism; (3) to clarify the differences between the concepts of secular Buddhism and Buddhist modernism; (4) to determine the development features of secular Buddhism and Buddhist modernism using Russian materials; (5) to highlight the specific features of the development of urban Buddhism. Research materials included the websites of Buddhist organizations and centers in Russia, personal experience in the development of Buddhist education, and research by Russian and foreign specialists on issues of Buddhist development. The research methodology is based on the phenomenological approach and employs categorical analysis, participant observation, descriptive methods, and random sampling. The study provided data on how Buddhism in Russia acquired a complex and multilayered character, combining tradition and modernization. Conclusions: 1. The dynamics of the development of Buddhism in Russia combines the traditional vector of ethnic consolidation with the solution of national and state problems. 2. Various forms of Buddhism are actively present in the virtual world, there is a process of integration of information technologies into religious practices and an expanding influence of Buddhist values on society. 3. The concepts of secular Buddhism and Buddhist modernism can be considered as intersecting phenomena, which combine the adaptation and rationalization of traditional Buddhism with a de facto rejection of Buddhist religious metaphysics. 4. These phenomena are reflected in Russian culture (primarily in the creation of health organizations and in the establishment of close ties with science and education). 5. Buddhist organizations traditional for Russia and organizations institutionally linked to foreign Buddhist centers coexist in the urban socio-cultural space characterized by the processes of modernization and secularization. Thus, the modernization of Buddhism in Russia can be viewed on the one hand, as a shift in the role and functions of traditional Buddhist organizations within contemporary sociocultural processes. On the other hand, this modernization also actualizes the non-denominational adaptation of the Buddhist heritage to the contemporary needs of individuals and society. The study raises questions about the boundaries of the phenomenon (e.g. the line between a modern perception of Buddhism and the "Buddhist brand") and a wider question of how to distinguish between forms of modern adaptation to new realities and an evolution of Buddhism as a world religion in the post-secular era.

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