Beyond the ‘Capitalist’ World - System: Buddhism in Action

Abstract

Capitalism is the globally dominant world system and is confronted by a
number of anti-systemic movements in different forms. One of these forms is the New Religious Movement. This study examines two examples of this movement that operate outside of the mainstream capitalist system and traditional religious structures. The Asoke Communities of Thailand and the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation of Taiwan are Buddhist organizations, the former Theravada, the latter Mahayana, that offer new
worldviews at variance with capitalist perspectives. In practice, they use appropriate traditions of the past and new ideas of the present as they create a future that goes beyond capitalism. They represent Buddhism in action as they construct their religious communities based on local culture to develop humanity and society.