Buddhist Sangha in Mongolia: Tradition and Modernity

Abstract

The article analyzes the restoration of the Buddhist sangha in Mongolia after 1990 in the context of theories of Buddhist modernization in the twentieth century. Many works discuss the interaction of Buddhism with Western teachings and culture, but Mongolian Buddhism has received insufficient attention in this regard. In recent decades, Mongolia’s role in Tibetan-Mongolian Buddhism has grown. Buddhism in contemporary Mongolia is connected to religious revival and is also an important part of national, ethnic, cultural and political processes. There is a tendency towards the modernization of Buddhism in Mongolia, while the state also regards Buddhism as a means of preserving national culture and traditions. Traditional and modern forms of Buddhism are not clearly separated in contemporary Mongolia; believers sometimes use traditional practices and views to address modern problems.