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The Mountain of Youth: Converting American Buddhism and the Authority of the Monk-Convert Paradigm
Abstract
This article examines generational shifts in popular narratives pertaining to dominant formations of Buddhism in the United States from 1950 to the 1990s through a postcolonial lens particularly sensitive to age, children, and family dynamics. A close read of Jack Kerouac's novels and the film Little Buddha identifies important features of this genealogy. This analysis shows that white Buddhist American converts' power and visibility have been reinforced by the Orientalist notion of a monk-convert lineage which presents the convert—represented as a free white young adult—as the sole heroic incarnation of the present and future of Buddhism in the modern world.
Key words: Buddhism, Conversion, Religion and Age, Orientalism
Este artículo examina los cambios generacionales en narrativas de la cultural popular que concierne a la formaciones del Budismo en los EEUU desde la década de 1950 hasta la década de 1990 a través de lentes postcoloniales con particular atención a edad, niños/as y dinámica familiar. A través de una lectura profunda de las novelas de Jack Kerouac y películas como Pequeño Buda este análisis identifica importantes características de esta genealogía. Este estudio demuestra que Blancos Americanos que se convirtieron al Budismo culminan reforzando la noción Orientalista del linaje monje-converso/a que presenta al/a converso/a -representado como el/la hombre/mujer blanca adulta libre- como la única heroica encarnación del presente y futuro del Budismo en el mundo moderno.
Key words: Budismo, Conversión, Religión y Edad, Orientalismo.
Este artigo examina as mudanças geracionais nas narrativas da cultura popular que dizem respeito à formação do budismo nos Estados Unidos de 1950 a 1990 através de lentes pós-coloniais com atenção especial à idade, às crianças e à dinâmica familiar. Através de uma leitura profunda dos romances de Jack Kerouac e do filme Little Buddha (dos romances e filmes de Jack Kerouac, como Little Buddha), esta análise identifica características importantes dessa genealogia. Este estudo mostra que o poder e a visibilidade dos convertidos americanos budistas brancos foram reforçados pela noção orientalista de uma linhagem monástica convertida que apresenta o convertido - representado como um jovem adulto branco livre - como a única encarnação heroica do presente e do futuro do budismo no mundo moderno.
Palavras-chave: Budismo, Conversão, Religião e Idade, Orientalismo
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References
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