Theravada Buddhism in South Asia And Southeast Asia.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.

India.

Buddhism began to lose its influence in India in the 7th century, and completely disappeared after the collapse of the Pala Empire in the 12th century, except in the far north of the Himalayas. In the late 19th century, Buddhism revived in India, when the leader of the Sri Lankan Buddhist, Anagarika Dharmapala, founded the Maha Bodhi Society (Maha Bodhi Society), with the help of British scholars. Their main purpose is to restore Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India, and they are very successful in building temples in all holy places, every temple has monks living in there.
In the 1950s, Ambedkar initiated a new Buddhist movement in the popular class, where hundreds of thousands of people converted into Buddhists, to avoid class discrimination. Interest in Buddhism also increased during the middle class in urban areas in the last decade. Currently, there are about 2% Buddhists in the Indian population.

Sri Lanka

Ceylon is the center of Buddhist practice, since Buddhism was brought into the country by Mahindra in the 3rd century BC. Mahindra is the son of the Indian Emperor, Ashoka (Ashoka). Ceylon has the longest Buddhist history. It also experienced periods of long decline in the war, and from the 16th century onwards, when the island became a colony, European missionaries brought Christianity here.
Buddhism underwent a strong revival in the 19th century, thanks to the help of British scholars and theosophists. Therefore, sometimes Sri Lankan Buddhism is described as "Protestant Buddhism", focusing on academic research, pastoral activities of the monastic community, and meditative practices for the world. layman. The country had gained independence in 1948, and since then, interest in Buddhism and Buddhist culture has been strongly restored. 
Today, 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhists, with the majority of the people following the Theravada tradition. After a 30-year civil war, ethnic Buddhism is currently increasing in Sri Lanka, with a number of institutions such as Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Forces), organizing anti-Muslim protests and attacked the faithful Buddhist leaders.

Burma

Historical research shows that Buddhism has a history of more than 2,000 years in Burma, with about 85% of the population identified as Buddhists today. The country has a long tradition of balanced emphasis between meditation and study for the monastic community, and the lay people maintain high faith. One of the famous Burmese Buddhists is SN Goenka, a layman who teaches insight meditation. 
Since Burma had reserved independence from Britain in 1948, both civilian and military governments promoted Theravada Buddhism. Under the military regime, Buddhism was strictly controlled, and the pagodas that harbored government dissent were often destroyed. Monks are often leading in political protests against the military regime, such as the 8888 Rebellion, and the 2007 Austrian Revolution.
Over the past decade, nationalist groups have formed, trying to restore Buddhism and oppose Islam. Ashin Wirathu, the monk leading the 969 Group, called himself "Bin Laden Burma", and proposed a boycott of Muslim shops. With the "Buddhist protection" appearance, the violent riots against Muslim mosques and apartments have become popular, with Muslim counter-attacks causing the fire of conflict to explode. Additional explosion.

Bangladesh

Until the 11th century Buddhism was the most powerful religion in this region. Today, less than 1% of the population is Buddhist, and they are concentrated in the Chittagong Hills Tracts area, near Burma. 
There are four Buddhist temples in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and several temples in the village in the East. However, because of being separated from Burma, the level of Buddhist practice and leadership here is quite low.

Thailand

Beginning in the 5th century AD, Buddhism spread to Southeast Asian empires. People follow Theravada Buddhism, strongly influenced by folk religion and Hinduism, as well as Mahayana Buddhism. Unlike Sri Lanka and Burma, Thailand has never had a monastic lineage for women. Nearly 95% of the country's population is Buddhists. 
Based on the Thai monarchy model, the Thai clergy community has the High Priest, as well as the Presbyterian Council, which is responsible for preserving the purity of tradition. There are two clergy groups, one living in the forest and one in the village. Both are very respected and sponsored by lay people.
The mendicants in the forest retreat tradition live in isolated forests and practice meditation, following strict rules. The monks in the village are mainly rituals and perform rituals for the local people. In keeping with Thailand's spiritual belief culture, monks also gave amulets to lay people. There is a Buddhist university devoted to clergy, mainly training monks to translate the Buddha's scriptures from classical Pali into modern Thai.

Laos

Buddhism spread to Laos for the first time in the 7th century AD, and today, 90% of the population has Buddhist faith, blending with the Spiritualism (Animism). In the Communist regime, at first, the government did not brutally suppress religion, but used the Sangha to achieve their political goals. Over time, Buddhism was severely suppressed. Since the 1990s, Buddhism has revived, with the majority of Laotian people very religious, and the majority of men who enter the monastery or go to the temple live for at least a short time. Most families offer food to monks and go to the temple on full moon days.

High Definition

Buddhism Originally, the religion of the country since the 13th century, with 95% of the population still being Buddhist. In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge tried and nearly succeeded with destroying Buddhism; by 1979, most monks were killed, or exiled, and all temples and libraries were destroyed. 
After Prince Sihanouk returned to king, restrictions were phased out, and interest in Buddhism was revived. Cao Mien people are also very confident in divination, astrology and the spirit world, and monks are often healers. Monks participate in many forms of celebration, from naming ceremonies for children, to marriage ceremonies and funerals.

Vietnam

Buddhism spread to Vietnam 2000 years ago, first from India, but mostly from China. However, in the 15th century, Buddhism began to be disgraced for the ruling class. The revival occurred in the early 20th century, but during the Republican period, the pro-Catholic policy was against Buddhists. Currently, only 16% of the population is Buddhist, but Buddhism is still the largest religion. 
Currently, the government is more accommodating to Buddhism, although no temple is allowed to operate independently of the state.

Indonesia and Malaysia

Buddhism came to this land around the 2nd century AD, by way of trade with India. For most of the history of Buddhism Buddhism was practiced in parallel with Hinduism until the 15th century, when the last Hindu-Buddhist empire, Majapahit, collapsed. In the early 17th century, Islam completely replaced these religions.
According to the panchashila policy of the Indonesian government, official religions must affirm faith in God. Buddhism does not confirm God as an individual, but this concept is acknowledged by the affirmation of A Buddha (Adibuddha), or "The First Buddha", as discussed in the Kalachakra Tantra (Kalachakra). Tantra), is a practice that flourished in India 1000 years ago. A Thought Buddha is the omniscient creator of all phenomena, transcending time and other limitations, and although A Buddha is described by a symbolic image, it is not really a being. A Buddha is found in all beings as the nature of the mind of consciousness. On this basis, Buddhism was accepted in parallel with Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Sri Lankan monks are helping to restore Theravada Buddhism in Bali and other parts of Indonesia (Indonesia), but to a very limited extent. People who are interested in Bali are followers of Balinese traditions, mixed with Hinduism, Buddhism and local spiritual religion. In other parts of Indonesia, the number of Buddhists making up about 5% of the population comes from the Chinese-Indonesian community. In addition, there are a few small Indonesian sects of Buddhism, mixed between Theravada, Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist nuances.
20% of the Malay population is Buddhist, and most Buddhists belong to the Chinese community. Half a century ago, the interest in Buddhism had decreased, and in 1961, the Buddhist Missionary Society was established, with the aim of promoting Buddhism. In the past decade, Buddhist practice has prospered, even among young people. Currently, there are many Buddhist monks, Theravada, Mahayana and Kim Cang, which are richly supported and supported.

Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia

People's Republic of China

Buddhism played a prominent role during the past 2000 years in Chinese history, and Chinese Buddhism itself played an active role in the spread of Buddhism in East Asia. The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) witnessed the golden age of Buddhism, with the strong development of art and culture.
During the Cultural Revolution of the 60s and 70s, the majority of Chinese Buddhist monasteries were destroyed and most monks and nuns and professors were executed or imprisoned. Even persecution of Buddhism is even more intense in Tibet and Inner Mongolia. As China reforms and is more open, the interest in traditional religions has increased again. New temples were built and old temples were restored. Most of those who joined the monastery come from poor families, have no education in the countryside, and their education is still low. Many temples exist only as tourist destinations, with monks working only as collectors and looking after the temples.
Today, a large number of Chinese people are interested in Buddhism, with the number of devotees of Tibetan Buddhism increasing significantly. Current estimates suggest that the Chinese Buddhist population is 20%, and the temples throughout the country are bustling during opening hours. As people become richer and busier, many people are trying to reduce stress by seeking Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism. Especially Tibetan Buddhism is much concerned by Han people, especially when Tibetan lama lectures in Chinese more and more.

Taiwan, Hong Kong and Overseas Overseas Areas

The East Asian Mahayana Buddhist tradition originating in China is the strongest tradition in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Taiwan has a strong community of monks and nuns, is widely supported by lay people, has Buddhist universities and Buddhist programs for social welfare. Hong Kong also has a growing clergy community. Highlights of overseas Chinese Buddhist communities in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines (Philippines) are prayers for ancestral welfare, for the prosperity and wealth of people. alive. There are many intermediaries that the spiritual advisers use to give prophecies, when they come to the field, and are consulted by lay people on health and psychological issues. Chinese entrepreneurs, who are the main force of the economy, are dubbed the "Asian Tiger", regularly offering large monks to monks to perform rituals, helping them succeed financially. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia also have a growing number of Tibetan Buddhists.

South Korea

Buddhism spread from China to the Korean peninsula in the 3rd century AD. Buddhism in South Korea is still quite strong, despite facing increasingly aggressive attacks from orthodox Christian organizations. Over the past decade, a large number of temples have been destroyed or damaged by these groups. 23% of the population is Buddhist.

Japan

Buddhism spread from Korea to Japan in the 5th century, and played a prominent role in Japanese society and culture. Since the 13th century, there is a monk tradition that is married and not forbidden to drink alcohol. These monks gradually replaced the tradition of single monks. Historically, some Buddhist traditions with extreme nationalism believe that Japan is a Buddhist paradise. In modern times, some fanatic sects about the end of the world also claim to be Buddhists, although their relationship to the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha is very small. 
About 40% of the population recognizes themselves as Buddhists, and most Japanese mix Buddhist beliefs with Shinto, the original religion of Japan. Shinto religious practices were applied when children were born and the marriage ceremony, while Buddhist monks performed funerals for funerals.
Many magnificent temples in Japan are preserved for tourists and visitors, although many of them are heavily commercialized. Most of the studies and practice were seriously weak. One of the largest Buddhist organizations in the world, Soka Gakkai, originated from Japan.

Mahayana Buddhism in Central Asia

Tibet

Buddhism soon spread to Tibet from the 7th century AD. Over the centuries, with royal patronage and the support of nobility, Buddhism has gone into many different areas of life in Tibet. 
After Tibet was occupied by the People's Republic of China, Buddhism in Tibet was severely suppressed. All except 150 of the 6500 monasteries and nuns, were destroyed, and most learned monks and nuns were executed, or died in concentration camps. After the Cultural Revolution, most of the rebuilding of monasteries was done with the efforts of completed monks, exiles and Tibetans in exile, and the government only helped rebuild two or three monasteries.
Although the Chinese Communist government is atheist, it allows five "religions to be recognized", one of which is Buddhism. While they claimed not to interfere with religious matters, but after the Dalai Lama recognized a Tibetan boy as the reincarnation of Panchen Lama, the boy and his family were immediately missing. Soon after, the Chinese government launched a search and found a Chinese and Tibetan hybrid boy. Since then, no one has met the boy chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Today, every monastery, nunnery and temple have their own rulers. It was the men and women wearing plain clothes that "helped" the job. This simply means that they review and report on the activities of the sangha. Sometimes, this ruling can be as crowded as the number of monks in the monastery. In addition to government intervention, one of the main Buddhist problems in Tibet is the lack of qualified teachers. Monks, nuns and lay people are keen to learn more, but most teachers are only allowed to study at a very limited level. Over the past decade, the government has launched a Buddhist "university" near Lhasa. This university acts as a school for young tulkus (reborn lamas), where Tibetan, calligraphy, medical and acupuncture learners, as well as some Buddhist philosophies. The digital age has brought Tibetan youth closer to Buddhism. Many people became members of Wechat and Weibo groups, sharing Dharma and Buddhism. Now, learning more about Buddhism is seen as a way to strengthen people's identity as a "true Tibetan".

East Tukistan (Xinjiang)

Most of the Kalmyk Mongol monasteries living in Eastern Turkistan (Xinjiang, Xinjiang) were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Some are now rebuilt, but the lack of professors is even more serious than Tibet. Young monks are discouraged because of lack of means of study, and many have left.

Inner Mongolia

However, the worst situation for Tibetan Buddhists under the control of the People's Republic of China is in Inner Mongolia. Most monasteries in the Western region were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In the East, formerly the Manchu region, many monasteries were destroyed by Stalin's army at the end of World War II, when Russians liberated North China from Japanese occupation. . The Cultural Revolution merely completed this destruction. Of the 700 monasteries formerly in Inner Mongolia, only 27 remain. 
Since the 1980s, there has been an attempt to rebuild the temple and rebuild the monastery, where not only the Mongols, but also the Han people practice.

Mongolia

In Mongolia (Outer Mongolia), thousands of monasteries were partially or completely destroyed in 1937, at Stalin's order. In 1946, a monastery in the capital Ulaan Baatar was reopened as a symbol, and in the early 1970s, a 5-year college program for monks was established. The training program is very brief, emphasizing the study of Marxism, and monks are allowed to perform a limited number of rituals for the public. With the collapse of Communism in 1990, Buddhism revived strongly with the help of Tibetan exiles in India. Many new monks were sent to India for training and more than 200 monasteries were reconstructed in a modest way.
One of the most serious problems faced by Mongolian Buddhism after 1990 was the strong Mormon missionaries (Adventists) and Adventists (Christian Baptist). ), although on the surface, they came to teach English. They give money and help their children to study abroad in the United States, if these people will convert, and distribute free, beautifully printed pamphlets of Jesus (Jesus) in the Mongolian language. Colloquial neck. As Christianity increasingly appeals to young people, Buddhist organizations have begun distributing information about Buddhism in colloquial language, through printed materials, television and radio programs. 
Currently, strong conversion has been banned in Mongolia. In 2010, 53% of the population was Buddhists, and 2.1% were Christians.

Tibetans Liu Vong

After the mass revolt against the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, among Tibetan traditions in Central Asia, the most powerful is the refugee Tibetan community living around the Dalai Lama. exile in India. They rebuilt from the beginning of the majority of monasteries and some Tibetan nunnery, with a full range of traditional study programs for scholars of monks, Zen masters and professors. There are facilities for education, research and publishing, to preserve every aspect of every school in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Tibetans in exile have helped Buddhism revive in the Himalayas in India, Nepal and Bhutan, including Ladakh and Sikkim, by sending teachers there and passing on the lineage. Many monks and nuns from these regions are studying in monasteries and nunneries of refugees.

Nepal

While the majority of Nepalese people are Hindus, the strong cultural influence of Buddhism still exists in the country where the Buddha was born. Ethnic groups like Newar, Gurung and Tamang practice in the traditional form of Buddhism in Nepal. The number of Buddhists accounts for 9% of the total population. 
Since there is a mix of Buddhism and Hinduism, Nepal is the only Buddhist society that maintains a level of distinction in monasteries. Over the past 500 years, there have been the emergence of married monks, who are at the genetic level, who look after the temples and host the ceremony.

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Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia are the three traditional areas of Tibetan Buddhism in Russia. Except for the Buryatia region with only three damaged monasteries, all the monasteries in the other regions were destroyed by Stalin in the late 30s. In the 40s, Stalin reopened two symbolic monasteries in Buryatia, below. strict monitoring of the KGB. Monks have returned to wearing robes like day uniforms and performing rituals. After the collapse of communism, Buddhism revived strongly in all three regions. Tibetans in exile have sent teachers, and young monks have been sent to study in Tibetan monasteries in India. More than 20 monasteries have been rebuilt in Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia.

Countries Not Following Buddhism

Detailed knowledge of Buddhism spread to Europe in the 19th century, when European colonists conquered Buddhist colonies, and through the works of Christian missionaries and scholars. Around that time, Chinese and Japanese immigrant workers built temples in North America.

All forms of Buddhism are also found all over the world, in countries that do not follow the Buddhist tradition. In it, there are two main groups: Asian immigrants and non-Asian practitioners. Asian migrants, especially in the US and Australia, and somewhat in Europe, have many temples from their own traditions. The main goal of these temples is to promote devotional practice and provide a community center to help immigrant communities maintain their own cultural identity. Currently, there are more than four million Buddhists in the United States, and more than two million Buddhists in Europe.

Currently, thousands of "Buddhist centers" of all traditions are found in more than 100 countries around the world, on all continents. Most Tibetan, Zen and Theravada centers are frequently visited by non-Asians, and these centers focus on meditation, research and ritual practice. Professors include Westerners as well as ethnic Buddhists from Asia. The largest number of centers can be found in the US, France and Germany. Many serious disciples have come to Asia to study at a higher level. Moreover, there are Buddhist studies programs in many universities around the world, and a constantly evolving dialogue, as well as exchange of ideas between Buddhism and other religions, with faculties Study, psychology and medicine.END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.28/2/2019.