GINGER · Perception of Eastern Religions in Europe

Perception of Eastern Religions in Europe

The aim of the project is to investigate the interrelation between the European worldview and the worldview inherent in Eastern religions (Daoism, Buddhism, Hinduism) on the example of three countries, Bulgaria, Germany and Ireland that have very different religious backgrounds, different history of religion and different history of the attitude to otherness and otherness-identity relation. Taking into account the fact that there is a great interest towards Eastern teachings and practices based on Eastern religions such as yoga, meditation, martial arts and some kinds of art, e.g. haiku, it is important to understand the reason for this interest regarding both the contemporary European situation and the peculiarities of the Eastern religions. The interconnection of these two aspects concerns two issues that are significant for today’s Europe: 1) the problem of self-identity of contemporary Europeans and 2) the problem of acceptance of otherness. Both problems are interconnected and interdependent. The project has three types of interconnected objectives: 1) research objective, 2) educational dissemination objective, and (3) qualification improvement and career advancement objective. The research objective was to study both theoretically and empirically the hidden ways of penetrating of Eastern religions in Europe and their influence on the self-identity of their European followers. The educational dissemination objective aimed at raising the awareness about the relativity of any differentiation and contributing to the development of a tolerant attitude to “otherness”. The qualification improvement and career advancement objective includes enriching and extending my research, teaching, organisation, presentation and communication skills and knowledge. The aims and objectives were successfully achieved. I analysed the regarded processes in terms of the issue of self-identity comparing attitude to the self, otherness, Ultimate reality and nature in Christianity, Hinduism. Buddhism and Daoism and analysing the possible answers of Eastern religions to the contemporary European situation. The results of the theoretical consideration and fieldwork were summarised in a book “East meets West: in search of self-identity”. I contributed to the discussion on the issue of the attitude to otherness organising scientific and cultural events, giving lectures and talks, participating in conferences, writing academic and popular papers. My objective for qualification improvement was fulfilled throughout the whole project due to the possibility to participate in the work of Leipzig University (LU) and University College Cork (UCC) – two institutions with advanced achievements in the field of Asian and religions studies.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union