HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHISM

• COLONIALISM - Notion that western culture is superior to anything that is producd in the 'colonies' The british empire ruled - it is arguable British buddhism has been interpreted 
• colonialist - buddhism was studied from the point of view that it was interesting yet inferior to western philosophy 

buddhism to the west 

• christian missionaires wanted to supplant buddhism in sri lanks with christianity 
• english servants took interest in buddhism out of academic/ linguistic interests 
• pali text society - 1881 Rhy Davids focused on translating theravadan scriptures into english 
• the buddhist society -1925 Christmas Humpreys interests in attempting buddhist practise and would invite buddhist speakers from the east to give lectures 

buddhists groups in england 

• thai forest tradition
• triratna community
• sokka gakkai / new kadampa tradition 

• could argue british buddhists take a protestant attitude to eastern buddhists - attitude that traditional buddhism has become too corupt with elaborate rituals not mentioned in the scriptures 
• protestant approach is to do away with traditions and go back to the scriptures to establish what religion should all be about 

POST WW11

• british culture changed radically after ww11 - we entered a post modern age in many aspects of society
• people began to question the old ways much more - hippies 'flower power' 60's was the period experiementing with eastern culture -  seen as cool - and individuality increased 
• all these changes made it easier for people to turn to buddhism 

• establishes proper sangha that was interested in more than intellectual side of buddhism as well as practises - conservatively in theravada nature

THAI FOREST GROUP

• established in england - SUMEDHO
• born in american and trained in thailand to achieve title of AJAHN - guru
• established AMARAVATI MONASTERY and had many satallite groups of lay people
• successful transplant of an authentic thai theravada buddhism with a few adaptations
  

SOKA GAKKAI

• largest group of british buddhists - form of nichiren buddhism - daimoku 
• key goal of nichiren buddhism - KOSEN RUFIL - goal of converting other people to nichiren 
• pre - adapted asian tradition and relatively easy for it to fit into the west 

• western branch pf dalai lamas sects - leader GYATSO opposed to the role of the dalai lama
• believe the dalai lama has corrupted tibetan buddhism 

TRIRATNA COMMUNITY 

• western form of buddhism, protestant in nature 
• interpretation more faithful to original buddhism 
• feels that arhat and bodhisattva paths are example developments that the buddha has intended
• teaches samatha meditation but discourages vipassana 
• triratna means three jewels

SECULAR BUDDHISM 

• 20% of non asians converts identified themselves as buddhists but not part of a group
• non affliated buddhists are the largest single group
• level of involvement in buddhism varies greatly from philosophical interests to fully practising 

• british buddhists metaphysical beliefs in things like karma/ reincarnation can be too difficult to believe in 
• meditation makes sense for therapeutic reasons - sit realms of samsara often interpreted in a psychological way ie each realm refers to types of human existence with relative happiness/ unhappiness 

STEPHEN BATCHELOR 

• lived as a tibetan monk for 10 years then became a korean zen monk
• came to his own conclusion that the historical buddha did not intend to teach a system of metaphysics only interested in a system of meditative therapy 
• believed in scriptures were changed later on to add a more meta physical dimension in order to compete with other religions 
• batchelor - described as a 'spearhead' of secular buddhism and an important figure for 20% of british buddhists who cannot subscribe with traditional buddhism 

CONVERT 

• term describing those who have adopted buddhism as their chosen religion without having been brought up with that tradition 
• this style has dominated heritage style of religiosity
• people do not have ancestry from asia 

HERITAGE 

• buddhist religiosity referred to immigrant, migrant, ethnic buddhism
• religiosity of buddhism is connected ethically with countries where buddhism has dominant presence 
• typical practises include generosity, chanting, meditation, listening to the dharma sermons and showing respect towards parents 
• young heritage buddhists can be found in temples, sunday school, asian language and cultural heritage is also taught