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Immigrant Buddhist women (both ordained and lay) play a prominent role in adapting Asian Buddhist communities to Canadian life. As well as playing important roles within ethnic communities, they often represent these communities to Canadian society, linking them to the broader social context and its services. In both capacities they may have contact with non-Asian Buddhist women (both ordained and lay) who have chosen to become Buddhist.
This paper will examine the relationship between Asian Buddhist women for whom Buddhism is an ascribed identity and non-Asian Buddhist women for whom it is a chosen identity. It will draw on preliminary research from a joint study on Buddhist women in Canada. The paper will examine the similarities and differences between Asian and non-Asian nuns, and Asian and non-Asian laity in their spheres of influence within their temple or practice group and in relations with the broader community. Further, it will examine the levels of interaction between them, seeking to spotlight their distinctive visions of and contributions to Buddhist community and practice in Canada.
Questions that will be addressed include: What is the degree to which Buddhist women Asian and non-Asian interact as co-religionists? To what degree are these interactions influenced by age, class, and race? What are the distinctions and commonalities between Asian and non-Asian nuns and Asian and non-Asian laywomen as Buddhists? How do non-Asian nuns and laywomen perceive themselves and how are they perceived within ethnic communities and in public discourse about Buddhism?
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