Transcultural Zen: Globalisation and Materialisation of Buddhism in the 21^st Century

The planned project intends to research global and local dynamics of postmodern transcultural Zen Buddhism with a special focus on material Buddhism. There has been an increase in zen-inspired ways to search for meaning and pursue well-being and healing, which can be observed not only in Europe and America, but also in Asia. Against this backdrop the research programme addresses the materialisation and globalisation of transcultural Zen-Buddhist practices, beliefs, products and aesthetics. The thematization of changing patterns of reception and perception is supplemented by questions about the impact of transcultural Zen Buddhism on the scope of action of Temple Buddhism. A combination of historico-philological and empirical-qualitative methods will be used.