南傳佛教在台灣的發展與影響：全球化的分析觀點

The Development and Influence of Theravada Buddhism in Taiwan: A Globalization Perspective

全球化是影響當代台灣宗教變遷一個不可忽視的因素，然而探討全球化與台灣佛教變遷之間關連的研究卻相當有限。本文以南傳佛教為例，採取全球化的研究取向，檢視外來佛教來台的原因、在台的發展概況、及其對台灣佛教的影響。本文將與南傳佛教有關的團體區分為四類：南傳在台中心、內觀團體、原始佛教團體、以及選擇性採用的漢傳教團。這四類團體在傳播路徑、實踐南傳佛教的方式、佛教認同的立場、服務對象特質和運動形式等面向，有所不同，顯示南傳佛教在台灣發展的多元性和異質性。本研究發現，就南傳佛教來台的傳播路徑而言，台灣佛教菁英主動引進南傳佛教的動力，大於移民需求和南傳佛教的主動宣教。其次，選擇性應用或經過轉化的南傳佛教對台灣佛教的影響，勝過於原初或完整的南傳佛教。此外，大部分外籍南傳法師在台的生活和佈教，採取了各種在地化的適應。整體而言，南傳佛教對台灣佛教的影響是多面向的：增加台灣佛教的多元性和競爭性，創造新的佛教認同和選擇性，促進漢傳佛教的創新，以及提升台灣佛教的全球性。

Globalization has been a visible factor in Taiwan's religious changes. There is little research, however, on the relationship between globalization and the changes of Taiwanese Buddhism. Based on the globalization perspective, this paper investigates Theravada Buddhism, including its introduction, its development in Taiwan, and its influence on Taiwanese Buddhism. This paper proposes an analytical framework and identifies four types of groups that are related to Theravada Buddhism: Theravada Buddhist centers in Taiwan, the Insight Meditation Movement, the Original Buddhist Movement, and some Chinese Buddhist groups that have adopted Theravada Buddhism selectively. Among these groups, there are variations in routes of introduction, ways of practice, positions of Buddhist identity, characteristics of participants, and types of movements. The diversities among these groups demonstrate the multiplicity and complexity of the development of Theravada Buddhism in Taiwan. This paper finds that the import of Theravada Buddhism initiated by the needs of Taiwanese elites weighs more heavily than that introduced by Southeast Asian immigrants, foreign workers or missionaries of Theravada Buddhism. Further, the selected or transformed Theravada Buddhism is more popular than the original or full-scale Theravada Buddhism. I also find that most foreign Theravada Buddhist monks have adjusted their ways of everyday life and dharma preaching in Taiwan. In sum, the influence of Theravada Buddhism on Taiwanese Buddhism is multifaceted, increasing the pluralism and competition among Buddhist groups, offering more alternatives of Buddhist identities and selection, stimulating the innovation of Chinese Buddhism in Taiwan, and enhancing the globality of Taiwanese Buddhism.