The Venerable Cheng-yen is an unassuming Taiwanese Buddhist nun who leads a worldwide social welfare movement with five million devotees in over thirty countries―with its largest branch in the United States. Tzu-Chi (Compassion Relief) began as a tiny; grassroots women's charitable group; today in Taiwan it runs three state-of-the-art hospitals; a television channel; and a university. Cheng-yen; who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; is a leader in Buddhist peace activism and has garnered recognition by Business Week as an entrepreneurial star.Based on extensive fieldwork in Taiwan; Malaysia; Japan; and the United States; this book explores the transformation of Tzu-Chi. C. Julia Huang offers a vivid ethnography that examines the movement’s organization; its relationship with NGOs and humanitarian organizations; and the nature of its Buddhist transnationalism; which is global in scope and local in practice. Tzu-Chi's identity is intimately tied to its leader; and Huang illuminates Cheng-yen's successful blending of charisma and compassion and the personal relationship between leader and devotee that defines the movement.This important book sheds new light on religion and cultural identity and contributes to our understanding of the nature of charisma and the role of faith-based organizations.
#584492 in Books Harvard University Press 2005-09-06 2005-08-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .75 x 6.13l; 1.05 #File Name: 0674019490322 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Powerful Discussion About HistoriographyBy TomKate Brown’s A Biography of No Place is a book about the multiethnic border zone between the Soviet Union and Poland known as the kresy. The Soviets first ran into the problem of detailing the region on a census because mixed ethnic groups placed people into multiple categories. First the Soviets catered to each nationality; promoting each one’s culture and identity separately. However as the nationality policies failed; Soviet officials turned instead to force and coercion. With the war fears at an all time high; nationality was use to justified deportation and arrests; formerly promoted nationalities became pariahs.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Must-read!By Gregory M. CarterOne of two excellent works by Kate Brown. In this text; Brown traces a path through the western USSR and the Ukraine; examining the wake of Soviet communism and nuclear fallout. This book provides a clear; unflinching look at the "Bloodlands" fought over by the Nazis and the Soviets alike; and gives readers a clear picture of how life unfolded under Soviet control and collapse.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It combines a good historical account with a journalistic style which makes understandable ...By CustomerA friend of mine suggested it to me; so I bought it. It combines a good historical account with a journalistic style which makes understandable what could be a challenging topic. Suggested to those interested in the history of Middle-East Europe.
