The Bhiksuni’s Daily Life World And Its Rational Logic

Since Buddhism was introduced into China, The Bhiksuni play a special and importantrole in the development and spread of Buddhism in different fields of politics, economics,history, culture, education, etc. From the aspect of both academic and social concern, theBhiksuni who matter a lot are, however, easily ignored by ordinary people. On the basis ofpractical and realistic investigation, this thesis conducts an exploration and analysis ofBhiksuni’s daily life with the method of thick description. It aims to describe the connotationof Bhiksuni’s daily life world(by participating and observing) under the background ofmodern metropolis.This thesis chooses the daily life world of the Bhiksuni who live in Q Temple as theresearch object and adopts several research methods such as participated observation method,half-structured interview, document reviewing, etc. Daily religious activities, organizationalstructure, the Sangha system and operating management mode are presented from theperspective of daily life. The author also analyzes how the temple, as a whole, develops fromthe competition with other coexisting organizations around. Besides, the paper makes acomprehensive analysis of the reasons why they choose to become Bhiksuni and theprofound implication behind their living world. At last, the association between theprosperity of modern life in city and the peace of Bhiksuni’s life in temple is discussedthrough the analysis of details in Bhiksuni’s everyday life. And analyzes the process of thetool rationality and the value rationality for example.The research results of this thesis are summarized as follows. The operatingmanagement of a religion, the believers’ behavior of burning incense, praying and thedecision of being a Bhiksuni are actually rational choices made by individuals after theinteractivity with associated beings. And all these behaviors are embodied in the daily life ofeach individual. What’s more, the routines integrate both holy and earthliness into the experiential world of Bhiksuni’s daily life and simultaneously present the abstract spiritualworld of Buddhism in concrete ways. The process of imagining through others andself-imagining is exactly the true meaning of everyday life. Finally, there is no doubt that lifein modern society influences the Bhiksuni’s peaceful life in temple in every respect. On thisoccasion, the Bhiksuni combines the essences of the two different lives to form a new way ofspiritual practice under the urbanized background.