Summary: | 碩士 === 東海大學 === 教育研究所 === 99 === This is a study on the transformation and division of the Modern Zen Society──a New Buddhist Sect established by the charismatic leader Li Yuan-Song. There are two focuses in this study. First, in 2003, Li Yuan-song’s transition from Zen to Pure Land Buddhism, which he transformed the Modern Zen Society to the Amitabha Society for Collective Practice and let Master Hui-Ching to take over it before he died. Second, in 2006, the key person of the Modern Zen Society Wen Chin-ke and Hua Min-hui declared to inherit Li’s dying wish so they left the Pure Land Buddhist Association and established the Modern Pure Land Sect. At the same time they also set up the Master Li Yuan-song memorial hall.
In order to effectively obtain the data of the disintegration about the transformation of the Modern Zen Society and the division of Pure Land Buddhism, designing qualitative research has been adopted. Most of the analytic data gather from: interviewing the key persons of the Modern Zen Society, observing the meeting by participating, and reading the publication and the homepage materials of the Modern Zen Society. The study shows that the three major factors which influenced the development of the organization at the postcharismatic period are: (1) the succession of charismatic leader Li Yuan-Song; (2) the members thought that the religious doctrines and practice must have the continuity and uniqueness. (3) the requirement of collective identity among some core members of the Modern Zen Society. The author concludes that some members of Modern Zen Society challenge the new leadership and operational styles of the Pure Land Buddhist Association and proclaim to get back to the spirit of the Modern Zen Society has become the most important dynamics to satisfy their need for collective identity.
Key words:
Modern Zen Society, Pure Land Buddhist Association, Modern Pure Land Sect,
New Religious Movement, Charismatic Leader, Collective Identity.
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