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Dorzhigushaeva O., Dondukova G. Ecological Motifs of Buddhist Anti-Urbanism in the Republic of Buryatia

Oyuna Dorzhigushaeva
East Siberia State University of Technology and Management
Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0001-6930-0915
E-mail: oyuna79@mail.com 

Galina Dondukova
East Siberia State University of Technology and Management
Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0002-4390-7556
E-mail: galina.dondukova11@gmail.com

 

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ABSTRACT. All over the world, Buddhism is adapting to life in megacities, taking on forms convenient for citizens, becoming a platform for an “exalted” ecology, and only in the Republic of Buryatia, thanks to the original anti-urbanist views of Pandito Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev, Buddhism moves towards ruralization, a return to the traditional forms of life of a nomad destroyed by the Soviet power. The article notes that the leader of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia uses ecological motivation to argue in favor of the rural way of life. Under ecology, he understands the ability to live in harmony with nature, in good natural conditions, to be able to use environmentally friendly products. The human need for an eco-friendly life, in his opinion, can be satisfied in the traditional rural lifestyle. Migration of rural Buryats to cities is constantly criticized by Khambo Lama. He believes that mass resettlement does not make them citizens, they only replenish the composition of the marginal urban population. Pandito Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev criticizes the use of deep monastic practices by laypeople in urban dharma centers. He places his hopes for the revival of Buddhism on the rural population, to whom, instead of theoretical knowledge of high texts, he offers live communication with a lama living nearby. He believes that life in the country and especially cattle-breeding is a good, as well as economically feasible choice for modern Buryat youth.

 

KEYWORDS: Buryat Buddhism, anti-urbanism, environmental ethics 

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-8619-2022-4(18)-67-77

 

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