Fitting message and practice to the environment
An observation of Nun Coen Rōshi's public lectures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/1677-1222.2024vol24i3a23Keywords:
Zen Buddhism, nun Coen, zazenAbstract
Since the arrival of Japanese Zen Buddhism in Brazil in the 1950s through the Sōtōshu tradition, reaching a broader audience has been a challenge that extends beyond the obvious cultural barriers inherent in religious transplantation. Monja Coen Rōshi, a Brazilian missionary who returned to Brazil in 1996 after studying Zen in the United States and completing approximately 12 years of training in Japan, has transformed this reality by leveraging communication media, particularly social media. Her unique biographical trajectory, combined with her innovative approach to disseminating the Dharma, has enabled her to break through the temple walls, bringing Zen Buddhism closer to the everyday lives of many Brazilians. This study begins with a brief biographical narrative and a reconstruction of her work as the leader of the Zendo Brasil community. Drawing on participant observation, we highlight the material adaptations she makes to the message and practices of Zen. Data gathered from attending her public lectures, as well as interviews conducted with members of the sangha—a nun and a lay teacher—and a communications professional closely associated with her, are analyzed to demonstrate how Coen adapts her language and, in particular, the practice of zazen, to a distinctly non-Buddhist audience.
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