The Study of the Impact of the Influence of Humanistic Buddhism Music on the Participants of the “Biography of the Buddha” Musical Production in the Philippines

• Main Author: Marie Antoinette R. Gorgonio
• Other Authors: Prof. Yao Yu Hsuang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/14928820543461639795

碩士 === 佛光大學 === 佛教學系 === 98 === ABSTRACT This thesis directs to probe the influence of the Humanistic Buddhism music of Fo Guang Shan to the participants of the “Biography of the Buddha” musical production and its general influence in the Philippines. To make the thesis feasible, a descriptive qualitative research was employed with the use of in-depth interview. The core questions that propelled in the process of this query are: 1) how did these participants encounter the FGS Chu-un temple and this musical production, 2) where there challenges and adaptations made by the organizers towards its non-Buddhist participants and, 3) what is the impact of the modernization of the music of FGS Humanistic Buddhism in Cebu Philippines, as in the case of the participants of “The Biography of the Buddha” musical production? There were twelve questions that were formulated in advance basing from the core questions and the kind of respondents that this thesis has gathered. This group was intently chosen to be researched since the kind of activity that they have been performing is the first and only kind that Buddhism has offered in the Philippines and this group is composed of non-Buddhist performers, thus it is interesting to research. In addition, the aim of this research is to provide information not only to the organizers of the musical production but also to researchers that will do a query which is more or less the same in the future. Basing from the result, acculturation and certain discoveries like ecumenism and missionary actions were found out. The participants were not acculturated by transforming to Buddhism but they were acculturated by the values they have learned basing from the faith of Buddhists. This kind of faith meant the belief and application of the Buddha’s teachings, and the participants of the musical production have acquired this kind of faith effectively, not only through stage performances but as well as through their daily life’s performances as Christians. Furthermore, Fo Guang Shan don’t use any force to invite or convert people to Buddhism, it has a gentle approach of introducing its teachings. This is applied through Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s cultural and artistic activities in a modern approach wherein the mission, not only for the self improvement and spiritual advancement of the individuals but also of the whole community, aimed for oneness regardless of religion, age, culture, and race that seemingly is imperative in this era. Mainly, the acculturation of the Buddhist faith was not only applied to the participants, it also reached out to the audience who has experienced the same faith then shared their feedbacks to the organizers as evidenced by the reviews cited in this research. More artistic and musical activities followed after the first few shows of the musical drama and these don’t only mean to serve the participants inside the group alone but to the outside community in the Philippines as well. Key words: Fo Guang Shan Humanistic Buddhism, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, modern religious musical, Biography of the Buddha musical in the Philippines, ecumenism, missionary