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Cultural Imperialism wouldn’t the Buddhist value of simplicity and purity find no place?
In a culture that commonly uses Christian names wouldn’t Buddhist
The entry of foreign based Buddhist and pseudo-Buddhist names be out of place?
organisations into Malaysia has no doubt changed the landscape
of Malaysian Buddhism. However, there is another aspect, i.e., What is worst, when people give up their antecedent culture
the direct impact of economic globalisation upon Malaysian to embrace the imperial culture, there is a great tendency that they
Buddhism, which must be examined. We shall now take a look at will also give up their antecedent religion. This is because there is
how economic globalisation is subtly changing the landscape of no reason for them to hold on to their antecedent religion which
Malaysian Buddhism. promotes many values that are incongruent to the new culture that
they now embrace. In fact, there is good reason for them to embrace
As a result of economic globalisation, cultures are also Christianity – a religion of that imperial culture.
globalised. The local cultures of many societies now face the
challenge of being swallowed up by the perceived superior culture Perhaps partly due to the above reason, many traditional
of the West, or more precisely, American culture. American culture Buddhists-Taoists left Buddhism. The traditional Buddhists-Taoists
is economically driven, and hence its value system is quite different population among Malaysian Chinese dropped from 90% in 1980
from the traditional value system found in the culture of oriental to 86% in 2000 .
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society.
Some Buddhist organisations are adopting certain practices
Aided by ICT and powerful financial patronage, the Western of the imperial culture, so as to be perceived as modern and
world successfully promoted the belief that their culture is superior attractive. So instead of saying “pay homage to the Buddha” they
to other cultures. They make those who are unable to cope with say “union with the Buddha!”; instead of thrift and simplicity, they
their culture feel inferior. Those who feel inferior then turn away adopt elaborate and fashionable approach in undertaking projects
from their antecedent culture and adopt the culture of the West. As and activities. Some monks, instead of putting palms together as
a result, Western culture quickly swept through the globe. This is a form of greeting, shake hands with others, including women.
cultural imperialism. They somehow adopt, or surrender to, some approaches of Western
culture in order to keep up to the demands of the present time.
When the antecedent cultural elements, such as values, world
views, customs, traditions, rites, eating habits, dress codes, language
are being replaced by the imperial culture of the West, the religion
of the antecedent cultural group was also challenged. For example, 12. For a more detailed discussion on this subject, see Ang Choo Hong: Religious Life in
in a culture that values “speed” and “efficiency”, wouldn’t people Contemporary Society. Published by Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia. 2002. PP143-
find it hard to dedicate a whole day to observe eight precepts, or 156.
meditation? In a culture that values “brand”, “style”, “fashion”,
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