On urban Buddhism: A humanistic, secularizing, and universal Buddhism

Abstract

In this paper, I explore the religious project initiated by the renowned abbot Juexing 觉醒 and a group of scholars to create a typology of Urban Buddhism (dushi fojiao 都市佛教). This religious project is discussed here as a political attempt at reform extending over the last two decades. I first review the recent discourse on Urban Buddhism, drawing on monastic and elite narratives from the turn of the century. Second, I compare Juexing’s work with the studies of other scholars who have contributed to the development of the concept of Urban Buddhism. Although some of these scholars did not use the actual term “Urban Buddhism,” their research is still relevant to the field. After reviewing Juexing’s political project, I conclude that the term “Humanistic Buddhism” (renjian fojiao 人间佛教) has been transformed into “Urban Buddhism” to renew its meaning. Embracing Urban Buddhism means adapting to modernity and signifies a move toward a more universal form of Buddhism for Buddhist leaders in Shanghai.