Widely perceived as an overwhelmingly Catholic nation; Brazil has experienced in recent years a growth in the popularity of Buddhism among the urban; cosmopolitan upper classes. In the 1990s Buddhism in general and Zen in particular were adopted by national elites; the media; and popular culture as a set of humanistic values to counter the rampant violence and crime in Brazilian society. Despite national media attention; the rapidly expanding Brazilian market for Buddhist books and events; and general interest in the globalization of Buddhism; the Brazilian case has received little scholarly attention. Cristina Rocha addresses that shortcoming in Zen in Brazil. Drawing on fieldwork in Japan and Brazil; she examines Brazilian history; culture; and literature to uncover the mainly Catholic; Spiritist; and Afro-Brazilian religious matrices responsible for this particular indigenization of Buddhism. In her analysis of Japanese immigration and the adoption and creolization of the Sôtôshû school of Zen Buddhism in Brazil; she offers the fascinating insight that the latter is part of a process of "cannibalizing" the modern other to become modern oneself. She shows; moreover; that in practicing Zen; the Brazilian intellectual elites from the 1950s onward have been driven by a desire to acquire and accumulate cultural capital both locally and overseas. Their consumption of Zen; Rocha contends; has been an expression of their desire to distinguish themselves from popular taste at home while at the same time associating themselves with overseas cultural elites.
#1293166 in Books 1991-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.22 x 6.00l; 1.49 #File Name: 082451131X480 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Excellent introduction to the various dimensions of Islam from withinBy TrekOnAZTo my knowledge this is one of the first (if not the first) attempt of its kind in the English language -- an attempt to present a clear and detailed view of the various dimensions of Islam from within (i.e. from the perspective of those who believe and live by it). The various contributors are experts in their respective areas and have treated their respective subject matter with the loving care that is the hallmark of those who write from the heart.11 of 23 people found the following review helpful. Lots of Sufism; modernism -- traditionalismBy WyoteIf you don't know much about Islam; this isn't the place to start. The authors and perspectives are overwhelmingly Sufi; and strain to present mystical Islam in Christian terms. They generally also represent modernist Islam; assimilated to Western ideas. So this isn't mainstream Islam. But if that's what you're interested in; this is a great book. Of course some essays are better than others; but overall it's a good read. I learned a lot.Edit - here we are; about 6 years later; and I understand what this book is. Nasr is not a normal Muslim; nor are any of the contributors to this "study." They are "Traditionalists;" followers of Rene Guenon. You can read about traditionalism in Sedgwick's "Against the Modern World." What this means is that this is a great book if you want to study "Traditionalist Spirituality;" but not if you want to study Islam. Let me recommend Reza Aslan's "No God but God" if you haven't studied Islam much and are just curious. If you want a better introduction to Sufism; consider books by Henri Corbin (also a traditionalist; but more faithful to his declared subjects). There are lots of others of course.
