Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics
This article focuses on three Zen meditation groups operating in Italy from the perspective of glocalization. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and practitioners’ narratives, it explores the dynamics underlying the making of glocal Zen with reference to the internal structure of individual religious w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/997 |
| _version_ | 1797470077587554304 |
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| author | Ugo Dessì |
| author_facet | Ugo Dessì |
| author_sort | Ugo Dessì |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article focuses on three Zen meditation groups operating in Italy from the perspective of glocalization. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and practitioners’ narratives, it explores the dynamics underlying the making of glocal Zen with reference to the internal structure of individual religious worlds and its reshaping through the creative incorporation of <i>zazen</i> or <i>zazen</i>-like meditation. My analysis also indicates that there are at least three main factors constraining these processes of glocalization: Availability, or the way in which Zen meditational techniques become accessible (or not) to individual practitioners through global religious exchanges; global consciousness, which relates to the way in which changes in collective consciousness encourage individuals to see themselves as global actors and their Zen practice as globally relevant; and resonance, which speaks of the way in which Zen meditation is selected by individual practitioners for their glocal practices based both on its perceived congruence with their preexisting religious worlds and its usefulness for the solution of specific problems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c13d812a42648ba96810bfaf17b1188 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c13d812a42648ba96810bfaf17b11882023-11-24T02:18:14ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-01131099710.3390/rel13100997Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying DynamicsUgo Dessì0Department of Religious Studies, University of Vienna, 1010 Wien, AustriaThis article focuses on three Zen meditation groups operating in Italy from the perspective of glocalization. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and practitioners’ narratives, it explores the dynamics underlying the making of glocal Zen with reference to the internal structure of individual religious worlds and its reshaping through the creative incorporation of <i>zazen</i> or <i>zazen</i>-like meditation. My analysis also indicates that there are at least three main factors constraining these processes of glocalization: Availability, or the way in which Zen meditational techniques become accessible (or not) to individual practitioners through global religious exchanges; global consciousness, which relates to the way in which changes in collective consciousness encourage individuals to see themselves as global actors and their Zen practice as globally relevant; and resonance, which speaks of the way in which Zen meditation is selected by individual practitioners for their glocal practices based both on its perceived congruence with their preexisting religious worlds and its usefulness for the solution of specific problems.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/997glocalizationEast Asian BuddhismZen BuddhismZen meditationreligion in Italy |
| spellingShingle | Ugo Dessì Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics Religions glocalization East Asian Buddhism Zen Buddhism Zen meditation religion in Italy |
| title | Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics |
| title_full | Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics |
| title_short | Glocal Zen in Italy: A Preliminary Exploration of the Underlying Dynamics |
| title_sort | glocal zen in italy a preliminary exploration of the underlying dynamics |
| topic | glocalization East Asian Buddhism Zen Buddhism Zen meditation religion in Italy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/997 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ugodessi glocalzeninitalyapreliminaryexplorationoftheunderlyingdynamics |