Monastery In Time The Making Of Mongolian Buddhism
Book Description
This remarkable ethnographic study opens the doors to a world rarely seen by outsiders: the inner life of Mongolian Buddhism as lived within the walls of the Mergen Monastery in Inner Mongolia. Caroline Humphrey and Hurelbaatar Ujeed present an intimate portrait of how one religious community has navigated centuries of dramatic change while preserving its spiritual essence.
The narrative follows the monastery's journey across three turbulent centuries, from the Qing dynasty through the devastating Cultural Revolution and into the modern era. At its heart lies the inspiring story of the Third Mergen Gegen, a visionary lama who skillfully adapted Tibetan Buddhist teachings into an authentic Mongolian spiritual tradition, conducting practices in the native language and creating a self-sustaining religious culture.
Through fifteen years of careful fieldwork, the authors reveal how successive generations of monks have fought to maintain their founder's spiritual vision despite overwhelming political pressures. Their account illuminates the complex relationship between personal faith and state power, showing how external upheavals have shaped the daily practice of Buddhism within the monastery walls.
This deeply researched work offers readers a unique window into a Buddhist tradition often overlooked in spiritual literature. The authors explore how these practitioners have worked to connect past wisdom with present realities, creating bridges across time that speak to anyone interested in how spiritual communities adapt and endure through historical challenges.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~12 hours)
📄 Length: 426 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore China, religion
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Buddhism
- ✓ Explore Monastic and religious life (Buddhism)
- ✓ Explore China, social life and customs
- ✓ Explore Buddhism, china
- ✓ Explore Monastic and religious life
