"neo-Buddhism"

[Timothy Lubin]

The term 'neo-Buddhism' is often used to refer to the movement initiated by B. R. Ambedkar, who called on members of his "(ex-)Untouchable" caste to convert to Buddhism as a means of repudiating the caste-ideology implicit in Brahmanically defined Hinduism and of inculcating positive group self-image.  (Hence, it is also called "Ambedkarite Buddhism".)   After considering various traditions, he settled on Buddhism because it seemed theoretically egalitarian, was fully Indian in origin and character, but had the pragmatic advantage that, due to its having died out in India, no longer had any particular regional or social associations that could interfere with its adoption by Maharashtrian Mahars and other low castes.
 
As a point of departure, you might look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Buddhism .  (Wikipedia articles are often tendentious or polemical on religious topics, but this one seems OK.)
 
Eleanor Zelliot has written a lot on this subject, esp. Maharashtrian Buddhist poets past (Chokhamela) and present ( http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/history/faculty/facpubs/bibzelliot/ ).  
 
 
Timothy Lubin
Associate Professor, Department of Religion
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
 
lubint at wlu.edu   |   http://home.wlu.edu/~lubint
 
Tel : (office) 540.458.8146; (home) 540.463.6833
Fax: 540.458.8498

>>> arganis at TODITO.COM 04/22/06 9:36 AM >>>

Dear Colleagues: By this letter I send a cordial greeting, waiting that all fo you have had a happy vacations. My question concern to the specialists in Buddhism: does exist some school type thatcan be called neo-Buddhism? And if there is, please gives me the name or names. 
Thanks so much.
Pfr. Horacio Fco. Arganis
Reseacher of IEFAC and IBCH


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