[lang_en]An Overview of Buddhist-influenced countries (by Justin Long and Liz Adleta).

A daughter of Hinduism and deeply colored by it, Buddhism is a 

worldwide missionary faith within fluence over a billion people. Bud- 

dhists follow the teachings of Gautama, the Buddha, the Enlightened 

One. Its basic premises are: (1) life is suffering as a result of desire and 

the solution is to eliminate desire; (2) karma, one’s action and the re- 

sult of that action, inexorably determines one’s fate in life and beyond; 

(3) samsara is the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth, to 

which one is bound by his karma; (4) the only way out of this endless 

cycle is to follow the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, which will 

lead, through right insight and right effort, to nirvana—not heaven, 

but the cessation of life, like a candle snuffed out. 

A do-it-yourself religion, Buddhism has great appeal to the 

West. The Buddha did not offer help beyond showing the way. Gods 

are thought to be an illusion and Buddhists deny a Supreme Infinite 

Personal Being. It is reputed that Buddha attained enlightenment by 

self-effort and taught his followers to do the same. 

Buddhist peoples are found in 94 countries around the world 

and Buddhists live in virtually every country. In a recent paper pre- 

sented to SEANET, Todd Johnson (editor, World Christian Encyclope- 

dia) reports 1.38 billion individuals influenced or affiliated with Bud- 

dhism. Of the 238 people groups profiled in Paul Hattaway’s Peoples 

of the Buddhist world, 100 have communities located in more than one 

country. Here we will survey the most heavily-influenced countries. In 

future issues, we will examine the ethnic groups more closely, as well 

as the methodologies for counting Buddhists. Population estimates 

here come from the latest edition of Operation World; soon we hope to 

run an article about how researchers should properly count Buddhists. 

Bangladesh is overwhelmingly a Muslim state, the community of 

Buddhists in Bangladesh is growing. Bangladesh has one of the dens- 

est populations in the world—125 million with only 1 million Bud- 

dhists or 0.6% of the total population. The Buddhists of Bangladesh 

belong to four groups who have gradually mixed together: the Austic, 

the Tibeto-Burman, the Draviyans and the Aryans. 

Bhutan is the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, Bhutan 

is very remote. Non-Buddhist religions are barely tolerated and all 

evangelistic activity is banned. Buddhism (72%) is growing, making 

inroads in the traditional ethnic religions, and although Christianity 

is growing at a rate twice as fast as Buddhism, the very small church 

(est. 10,000 members) is still a tiny minority. 

Brunei is a Muslim state with a Buddhist minority. Buddhists are 

estimated between 9-20%, possibly as many as 60,000 people. Most 

are found amongst the Chinese involved in trade and business and 

Thai expatriate workers, both caught up with material concerns mak- 

ing them more resistant to the gospel. 

Cambodia is over 82% Buddhist, and Buddhism has been the 

national religion since the 15th century. Nearly 90% of all Buddhist 

monks were murdered by the Khmer Rouge (along with about equal 

numbers of Christians) following the communist takeover in 1975. 

But, the country is dominated by its Buddhist heritage: spirit houses 

are everywhere, and many Buddhist temples are considered archaeo- 

logical treasures and heritage sites. Today Buddhism is struggling to 

re-establish itself although the lack of Buddhist scholars and leaders 

and the continuing political instability are making the task difficult. 

China is estimated to be about 49% non-religious, 28% Chinese 

and 8% Buddhist, but the fact is most Chinese hold to beliefs that are 

essentially Buddhist in nature. Buddhists number at least 105 million 

in this country, and the number influenced by Buddhism either in 

a minor or major way could easily exceed 700 million. Buddhism is 

back strong as ever in the countryside and spreading in China’s cities 

too, especially the Tibetan version which has an exotic cultural appeal 

to young people searching for spiritual substance. 

Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of China, 

and a mostly secularized state. Many, however, are still influenced 

by Buddhism: estimated at 66% or 4.6 million. Over 360 Taoist and 

Buddhist temples are found in Hong Kong. 

India. Buddhists form a smaller minority (0.8% of the total) 

but are estimated at about 8 million people. Bihar is the birthplace 

of  Buddhism and Buddhist thinking, as in China, influences a wider 

population than that. Anti-conversion legislation and active persecu- 

tion complicates any outreach to Buddhists. Many Tibetans (Bud-

dhists) were exiled to China: over 130,000 estimated and the Dalai 

Lama is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh. Around 4,000-5,000 

Tibetans escape their native land every year, with most seeking refuge 

in India. There are 35 Tibetan settlements and numerous smaller 

communities in India. They seek to keep their cultural identity alive 

while adapting to life in a foreign country. In addition neo-Buddhists 

figure prominently as hundreds of thousands of Dalit and OBC 

(Other Backward Castes) seek to convert wholesale to Buddhism in 

protest against the caste system and other social evils against them. 

Indonesia. Most Buddhists are Chinese, numbering about 1.7 

million (0.8%) and significant in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Due to 

Chinese settlement on Borneo, Buddhism continues to thrive. The 

Borobudur temple, a massive complex in Central Java, was built more 

than 1,100 years ago (three centuries before Islam) and is still active. 

Japan. About 90 million (69%) consider themselves Buddhists, 

and new Buddhist cults make up another 24% or 30.9 million. 

Religious freedom is granted by the constitution but nationalistic 

Shintoism is rising in power. Buddhism is strongly mixed with ances- 

tor worship and other spiritistic beliefs. Extreme pressure to conform 

in society hinders people from acting freely and makes evangelism 

difficult. Religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the aver- 

age Japanese very strongly but is felt at key points in life. 

North and South Korea. Buddhism came via China in 372AD 

and flourished. There are over 25,000 Buddhist monks and nuns 

throughout South Korea looking after some 12,000 temples. About 

35% of South Koreans claim to be Buddhists, but many visit temples 

only 3-4 times a year. The influence of Buddhism is keenly felt in 

socio-political arena, academic circles, creative arts, geomancy, ritu- 

als and ceremonies. In the 1980’s when Christianity was enjoying 

revival throughout South Korea, Buddhism began to imitate much 

of Christianity by way of prayer styles, location of temples, etc. Today 

Buddhism is the fastest growing of all religions in Korea! 

Laos. Buddhists strongly influenced by animism make up the 

majority (61%) of the population which is growing. Most reports 

indicate Buddhism thrives in harmony with the communist regime. 

Persecution is fairly strong and the Church is divided. 

Malaysia. Several groups of Foochow Chinese Christians settled 

in central Sarawak, in 1901, fleeing persecution during the Boxer Re- 

bellion. They established a dynamic Christian community in the heart 

of quite inhospitable terrain and today their influence is felt through- 

out the state. Unfortunately, such communities are not as Christian 

today as they once were. There is a growing presence of Buddhist and 

Chinese religions and Buddhists make up 21% of the population. 

Mongolia. The country is primarily Buddhist, with strong 

shamanistic underpinnings despite the communist efforts to totally 

eradicate religious beliefs under their rule. Buddhism is thriving once 

again and monks are being sent out to spread Buddhism to other 

nations. The church in Mongolia is rather new and still quite weak 

except in the capital city where it is growing. 

Myanmar. Buddhists total 82% of the population (37 million). 

Buddhist animism carries great influence in daily life. The dictatorial 

regime has isolated the country and is carrying out a campaign of 

genocide against ethnic minorities, many of whom had moved toward 

Christianity. The strongly Buddhist Bamar majority has been difficult 

to reach and the church has remained very divided. 

Nepal. Nepal, although known officially as a Hindu nation, is 

probably more Buddhist in influence. Lumbini, in Nepal, is consid- 

ered the birthplace of Buddha by some and there are many strong 

pilgrimage points that draw Buddhists from around the world The 

presence of Tibetan refugees strengthens the influence of that branch 

of Buddhism in this nation as well. 

Philippines. Overwhelmingly a nominally Christian country, 

there are minorities of Buddhists (3% or 2,300,000). Of the 850,000 

Chinese, perhaps a tenth practice Chinese religions that are heavily 

based on Buddhism. Buddhism in the Philippines gained its foothold 

with the rise of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in Malaysia in the 

7th century and lasted until their decline in the 13th century. Active 

trading by Chinese and Indian merchants with native tribes brought 

Buddhist knowledge and iconography to the country. Archeaologi- 

cal finds in the Philippines unearthed priceless Buddhist statues and 

other artifacts dating to this era. Linguistic influence also left its 

indelible mark, with Buddhist concepts such as dukkha (suffering) 

and bodhi (knowledge) entering everyday speech. 

Russia. Buddhists total 0.7% of the population, or slightly over 

1 million. Three specific groups in Russia are strongly Buddhist: the 

Kalmyk in the Caucasus region, the Tuvans just north of Mongolia 

and the Buryat east of Lake Baikal. There is a revival of Buddhism 

not only among these groups but throughout the whole of Russia as 

people look for a path to freedom from guilt and for spirituality. The 

appearance of Buddhism as a religion of peace and harmony appeals 

to Russians struggling so desperately in their daily lives. New Bud- 

dhist centres are being established outside the traditionally Buddhist 

areas in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Obninsk, Nizhni- 

Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Varonesh. 

Singapore. Although heavily Westernized and with a strong 

Church presence, Buddhism still permeates the island. The Buddhist 

community is growing explosively, taking adherents from Islam, the 

non-religious, and older Chinese religions (the latter are heavily in 

decline). Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of Singaporeans 

above 15 years old who are Buddhists increased from 31% to 43% 

(1.8 million), the largest increase amongst all major religions. 

Sri Lanka. This is the oldest continually Buddhist country, 

Theravada Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its 

official introduction in the 2nd century BC. It is the state religion and 

is protected and promoted. Other religions are technically allowed but 

actually restricted. Buddhists number about 71% and are growing. 

Taiwan. Most Taiwanese mix Buddhism, Taoism and Con- 

fucianism into an organic whole. Buddhists number about 25% or 

5.6 million but Buddhism heavily influences most of the popula- 

tion. Buddhism is growing. Since 1980, Tantric Buddhism, esoteric 

practices and teachings developed between the 2nd and 4th centuries 

AD in India and subsequently developed in Tibet and other regions, 

has become increasingly popular in Taiwan. Exiled Tibetan monks 

have come to Taiwan, rapidly attracting large followings and thereby 

exercising a significant effect on Taiwan’s religious culture. Operation 

World notes Taiwan remains the only major Han Chinese population 

where a spiritual breakthrough has yet to come. 

Thailand. Buddhists total 92% of the population (56 million). 

Buddhist elements—temples, spirit houses, etc.—permeate the na- 

tion. Buddhism is in decline by only the smallest of margins, and 

is likely to maintain its pre-eminent place in society for decades or 

centuries without some significant breakthrough. Christianity is 

growing rapidly but forms only a very small portion (1% or slightly 

under 1 million). 

Vietnam. About 54% of the population (or 43 million) are 

Buddhists. The state controls all religions including Buddhism but 

Buddhism is maintaining its place in the population and Christian- 

ity is severely persecuted by the government. The Khmer are strongly 

Buddhist. Many resources exist that can be used to evangelize Viet- 

namese, but few workers are willing to go. 

By Justin Long and Liz Adleta[/lang_en]

An Overview of Buddhist-influenced Countries (by Justin Long and Liz Adleta).

A daughter of Hinduism and deeply colored by it, Buddhism is a worldwide missionary faith with influence over a billion people. Buddhists follow the teachings of Gautama, the Buddha, the Enlightened One. Its basic premises are: (1) life is suffering as a result of desire and the solution is to eliminate desire; (2) karma, one’s action and the result of that action, inexorably determines one’s fate in life and beyond; (3) samsara is the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth, to which one is bound by his karma; (4) the only way out of this endless cycle is to follow the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, which will lead, through right insight and right effort, to nirvana—not heaven, but the cessation of life, like a candle snuffed out.

A do-it-yourself religion, Buddhism has great appeal to the West. The Buddha did not offer help beyond showing the way. Gods are thought to be an illusion and Buddhists deny a Supreme Infinite Personal Being. It is reputed that Buddha attained enlightenment by self-effort and taught his followers to do the same.

Buddhist peoples are found in 94 countries around the world and Buddhists live in virtually every country. In a recent paper presented to SEANET, Todd Johnson (editor, World Christian Encyclopedia) reports 1.38 billion individuals influenced or affiliated with Buddhism. Of the 238 people groups profiled in Paul Hattaway’s Peoples of the Buddhist world, 100 have communities located in more than one country. Here we will survey the most heavily-influenced countries. In future issues, we will examine the ethnic groups more closely, as well as the methodologies for counting Buddhists. Population estimates here come from the latest edition of Operation World; soon we hope to run an article about how researchers should properly count Buddhists.

Bangladesh is overwhelmingly a Muslim state, the community of Buddhists in Bangladesh is growing. Bangladesh has one of the densest populations in the world—125 million with only 1 million Buddhists or 0.6% of the total population. The Buddhists of Bangladesh belong to four groups who have gradually mixed together: the Austic, the Tibeto-Burman, the Draviyans and the Aryans.

Bhutan is the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, Bhutan is very remote. Non-Buddhist religions are barely tolerated and all evangelistic activity is banned. Buddhism (72%) is growing, making inroads in the traditional ethnic religions, and although Christianity is growing at a rate twice as fast as Buddhism, the very small church (est. 10,000 members) is still a tiny minority.

Brunei is a Muslim state with a Buddhist minority. Buddhists are estimated between 9-20%, possibly as many as 60,000 people. Most are found amongst the Chinese involved in trade and business and Thai expatriate workers, both caught up with material concerns making them more resistant to the gospel.

Cambodia is over 82% Buddhist, and Buddhism has been the national religion since the 15th century. Nearly 90% of all Buddhist monks were murdered by the Khmer Rouge (along with about equal numbers of Christians) following the communist takeover in 1975. But, the country is dominated by its Buddhist heritage: spirit houses are everywhere, and many Buddhist temples are considered archaeological treasures and heritage sites. Today Buddhism is struggling to re-establish itself although the lack of Buddhist scholars and leaders and the continuing political instability are making the task difficult.

China is estimated to be about 49% non-religious, 28% Chinese and 8% Buddhist, but the fact is most Chinese hold to beliefs that are essentially Buddhist in nature. Buddhists number at least 105 million in this country, and the number influenced by Buddhism either in a minor or major way could easily exceed 700 million. Buddhism is back strong as ever in the countryside and spreading in China’s cities too, especially the Tibetan version which has an exotic cultural appeal to young people searching for spiritual substance.

Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of China, and a mostly secularized state. Many, however, are still influenced by Buddhism: estimated at 66% or 4.6 million. Over 360 Taoist and Buddhist temples are found in Hong Kong.

India. Buddhists form a smaller minority (0.8% of the total) but are estimated at about 8 million people. Bihar is the birthplace of  Buddhism and Buddhist thinking, as in China, influences a wider population than that. Anti-conversion legislation and active persecution complicates any outreach to Buddhists. Many Tibetans (Buddhists) were exiled to China: over 130,000 estimated and the Dalai Lama is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh. Around 4,000-5,000 Tibetans escape their native land every year, with most seeking refuge in India. There are 35 Tibetan settlements and numerous smaller communities in India. They seek to keep their cultural identity alive while adapting to life in a foreign country. In addition neo-Buddhists figure prominently as hundreds of thousands of Dalit and OBC (Other Backward Castes) seek to convert wholesale to Buddhism in protest against the caste system and other social evils against them.

Indonesia. Most Buddhists are Chinese, numbering about 1.7 million (0.8%) and significant in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Due to Chinese settlement on Borneo, Buddhism continues to thrive. The Borobudur temple, a massive complex in Central Java, was built more than 1,100 years ago (three centuries before Islam) and is still active.

Japan. About 90 million (69%) consider themselves Buddhists, and new Buddhist cults make up another 24% or 30.9 million. Religious freedom is granted by the constitution but nationalistic Shintoism is rising in power. Buddhism is strongly mixed with ancestor worship and other spiritistic beliefs. Extreme pressure to conform in society hinders people from acting freely and makes evangelism difficult. Religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very strongly but is felt at key points in life.

North and South Korea. Buddhism came via China in 372AD and flourished. There are over 25,000 Buddhist monks and nuns throughout South Korea looking after some 12,000 temples. About 35% of South Koreans claim to be Buddhists, but many visit temples only 3-4 times a year. The influence of Buddhism is keenly felt in socio-political arena, academic circles, creative arts, geomancy, rituals and ceremonies. In the 1980’s when Christianity was enjoying revival throughout South Korea, Buddhism began to imitate much of Christianity by way of prayer styles, location of temples, etc. Today Buddhism is the fastest growing of all religions in Korea!

Laos. Buddhists strongly influenced by animism make up the majority (61%) of the population which is growing. Most reports indicate Buddhism thrives in harmony with the communist regime. Persecution is fairly strong and the Church is divided.

Malaysia. Several groups of Foochow Chinese Christians settled in central Sarawak, in 1901, fleeing persecution during the Boxer Rebellion. They established a dynamic Christian community in the heart of quite inhospitable terrain and today their influence is felt through-out the state. Unfortunately, such communities are not as Christian today as they once were. There is a growing presence of Buddhist and Chinese religions and Buddhists make up 21% of the population.

Mongolia. The country is primarily Buddhist, with strong shamanistic underpinnings despite the communist efforts to totally eradicate religious beliefs under their rule. Buddhism is thriving once again and monks are being sent out to spread Buddhism to other nations. The church in Mongolia is rather new and still quite weak except in the capital city where it is growing.

Myanmar. Buddhists total 82% of the population (37 million). Buddhist animism carries great influence in daily life. The dictatorial regime has isolated the country and is carrying out a campaign against ethnic minorities, many of whom had moved toward Christianity. The strongly Buddhist Bamar majority has been difficult to reach and the church has remained very divided.

Nepal. Nepal, although known officially as a Hindu nation, is probably more Buddhist in influence. Lumbini, in Nepal, is considered the birthplace of Buddha by some and there are many strong pilgrimage points that draw Buddhists from around the world. The presence of Tibetan refugees strengthens the influence of that branch of Buddhism in this nation as well.

Philippines. Overwhelmingly a nominally Christian country, there are minorities of Buddhists (3% or 2,300,000). Of the 850,000 Chinese, perhaps a tenth practice Chinese religions that are heavily based on Buddhism. Buddhism in the Philippines gained its foothold with the rise of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in Malaysia in the 7th century and lasted until their decline in the 13th century. Active trading by Chinese and Indian merchants with native tribes brought Buddhist knowledge and iconography to the country. Archeaological finds in the Philippines unearthed priceless Buddhist statues and other artifacts dating to this era. Linguistic influence also left its indelible mark, with Buddhist concepts such as dukkha (suffering) and bodhi (knowledge) entering everyday speech.

Russia. Buddhists total 0.7% of the population, or slightly over 1 million. Three specific groups in Russia are strongly Buddhist: the Kalmyk in the Caucasus region, the Tuvans just north of Mongolia and the Buryat east of Lake Baikal. There is a revival of Buddhism not only among these groups but throughout the whole of Russia as people look for a path to freedom from guilt and for spirituality. The appearance of Buddhism as a religion of peace and harmony appeals to Russians struggling so desperately in their daily lives. New Buddhist centres are being established outside the traditionally Buddhist areas in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Obninsk, Nizhni-Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Varonesh.

Singapore. Although heavily Westernized and with a strong Church presence, Buddhism still permeates the island. The Buddhist community is growing explosively, taking adherents from Islam, the non-religious, and older Chinese religions (the latter are heavily in decline). Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of Singaporeans above 15 years old who are Buddhists increased from 31% to 43% (1.8 million), the largest increase amongst all major religions.

Sri Lanka. This is the oldest continually Buddhist country, Theravada Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its official introduction in the 2nd century BC. It is the state religion and is protected and promoted. Other religions are technically allowed but actually restricted. Buddhists number about 71% and are growing.

Taiwan. Most Taiwanese mix Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism into an organic whole. Buddhists number about 25% or 5.6 million but Buddhism heavily influences most of the population. Buddhism is growing. Since 1980, Tantric Buddhism, esoteric practices and teachings developed between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD in India and subsequently developed in Tibet and other regions, has become increasingly popular in Taiwan. Exiled Tibetan monks have come to Taiwan, rapidly attracting large followings and thereby exercising a significant effect on Taiwan’s religious culture. Operation World notes Taiwan remains the only major Han Chinese population where a spiritual breakthrough has yet to come.

Thailand. Buddhists total 92% of the population (56 million). Buddhist elements—temples, spirit houses, etc.—permeate the nation. Buddhism is in decline by only the smallest of margins, and is likely to maintain its pre-eminent place in society for decades or centuries without some significant breakthrough. Christianity is growing rapidly but forms only a very small portion (1% or slightly under 1 million).

Vietnam. About 54% of the population (or 43 million) are Buddhists. The state controls all religions including Buddhism but Buddhism is maintaining its place in the population and Christianity is severely persecuted by the government. The Khmer are strongly Buddhist. Many resources exist that can be used to evangelize Vietnamese, but few workers are willing to go.

By Justin Long and Liz Adleta

[lang_en]An Overview of Buddhist-influenced countries (by Justin Long and Liz Adleta).

A daughter of Hinduism and deeply colored by it, Buddhism is a 

worldwide missionary faith within fluence over a billion people. Bud- 

dhists follow the teachings of Gautama, the Buddha, the Enlightened 

One. Its basic premises are: (1) life is suffering as a result of desire and 

the solution is to eliminate desire; (2) karma, one’s action and the re- 

sult of that action, inexorably determines one’s fate in life and beyond; 

(3) samsara is the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth, to 

which one is bound by his karma; (4) the only way out of this endless 

cycle is to follow the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, which will 

lead, through right insight and right effort, to nirvana—not heaven, 

but the cessation of life, like a candle snuffed out. 

A do-it-yourself religion, Buddhism has great appeal to the 

West. The Buddha did not offer help beyond showing the way. Gods 

are thought to be an illusion and Buddhists deny a Supreme Infinite 

Personal Being. It is reputed that Buddha attained enlightenment by 

self-effort and taught his followers to do the same. 

Buddhist peoples are found in 94 countries around the world 

and Buddhists live in virtually every country. In a recent paper pre- 

sented to SEANET, Todd Johnson (editor, World Christian Encyclope- 

dia) reports 1.38 billion individuals influenced or affiliated with Bud- 

dhism. Of the 238 people groups profiled in Paul Hattaway’s Peoples 

of the Buddhist world, 100 have communities located in more than one 

country. Here we will survey the most heavily-influenced countries. In 

future issues, we will examine the ethnic groups more closely, as well 

as the methodologies for counting Buddhists. Population estimates 

here come from the latest edition of Operation World; soon we hope to 

run an article about how researchers should properly count Buddhists. 

Bangladesh is overwhelmingly a Muslim state, the community of 

Buddhists in Bangladesh is growing. Bangladesh has one of the dens- 

est populations in the world—125 million with only 1 million Bud- 

dhists or 0.6% of the total population. The Buddhists of Bangladesh 

belong to four groups who have gradually mixed together: the Austic, 

the Tibeto-Burman, the Draviyans and the Aryans. 

Bhutan is the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, Bhutan 

is very remote. Non-Buddhist religions are barely tolerated and all 

evangelistic activity is banned. Buddhism (72%) is growing, making 

inroads in the traditional ethnic religions, and although Christianity 

is growing at a rate twice as fast as Buddhism, the very small church 

(est. 10,000 members) is still a tiny minority. 

Brunei is a Muslim state with a Buddhist minority. Buddhists are 

estimated between 9-20%, possibly as many as 60,000 people. Most 

are found amongst the Chinese involved in trade and business and 

Thai expatriate workers, both caught up with material concerns mak- 

ing them more resistant to the gospel. 

Cambodia is over 82% Buddhist, and Buddhism has been the 

national religion since the 15th century. Nearly 90% of all Buddhist 

monks were murdered by the Khmer Rouge (along with about equal 

numbers of Christians) following the communist takeover in 1975. 

But, the country is dominated by its Buddhist heritage: spirit houses 

are everywhere, and many Buddhist temples are considered archaeo- 

logical treasures and heritage sites. Today Buddhism is struggling to 

re-establish itself although the lack of Buddhist scholars and leaders 

and the continuing political instability are making the task difficult. 

China is estimated to be about 49% non-religious, 28% Chinese 

and 8% Buddhist, but the fact is most Chinese hold to beliefs that are 

essentially Buddhist in nature. Buddhists number at least 105 million 

in this country, and the number influenced by Buddhism either in 

a minor or major way could easily exceed 700 million. Buddhism is 

back strong as ever in the countryside and spreading in China’s cities 

too, especially the Tibetan version which has an exotic cultural appeal 

to young people searching for spiritual substance. 

Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of China, 

and a mostly secularized state. Many, however, are still influenced 

by Buddhism: estimated at 66% or 4.6 million. Over 360 Taoist and 

Buddhist temples are found in Hong Kong. 

India. Buddhists form a smaller minority (0.8% of the total) 

but are estimated at about 8 million people. Bihar is the birthplace 

of  Buddhism and Buddhist thinking, as in China, influences a wider 

population than that. Anti-conversion legislation and active persecu- 

tion complicates any outreach to Buddhists. Many Tibetans (Bud-

dhists) were exiled to China: over 130,000 estimated and the Dalai 

Lama is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh. Around 4,000-5,000 

Tibetans escape their native land every year, with most seeking refuge 

in India. There are 35 Tibetan settlements and numerous smaller 

communities in India. They seek to keep their cultural identity alive 

while adapting to life in a foreign country. In addition neo-Buddhists 

figure prominently as hundreds of thousands of Dalit and OBC 

(Other Backward Castes) seek to convert wholesale to Buddhism in 

protest against the caste system and other social evils against them. 

Indonesia. Most Buddhists are Chinese, numbering about 1.7 

million (0.8%) and significant in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Due to 

Chinese settlement on Borneo, Buddhism continues to thrive. The 

Borobudur temple, a massive complex in Central Java, was built more 

than 1,100 years ago (three centuries before Islam) and is still active. 

Japan. About 90 million (69%) consider themselves Buddhists, 

and new Buddhist cults make up another 24% or 30.9 million. 

Religious freedom is granted by the constitution but nationalistic 

Shintoism is rising in power. Buddhism is strongly mixed with ances- 

tor worship and other spiritistic beliefs. Extreme pressure to conform 

in society hinders people from acting freely and makes evangelism 

difficult. Religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the aver- 

age Japanese very strongly but is felt at key points in life. 

North and South Korea. Buddhism came via China in 372AD 

and flourished. There are over 25,000 Buddhist monks and nuns 

throughout South Korea looking after some 12,000 temples. About 

35% of South Koreans claim to be Buddhists, but many visit temples 

only 3-4 times a year. The influence of Buddhism is keenly felt in 

socio-political arena, academic circles, creative arts, geomancy, ritu- 

als and ceremonies. In the 1980’s when Christianity was enjoying 

revival throughout South Korea, Buddhism began to imitate much 

of Christianity by way of prayer styles, location of temples, etc. Today 

Buddhism is the fastest growing of all religions in Korea! 

Laos. Buddhists strongly influenced by animism make up the 

majority (61%) of the population which is growing. Most reports 

indicate Buddhism thrives in harmony with the communist regime. 

Persecution is fairly strong and the Church is divided. 

Malaysia. Several groups of Foochow Chinese Christians settled 

in central Sarawak, in 1901, fleeing persecution during the Boxer Re- 

bellion. They established a dynamic Christian community in the heart 

of quite inhospitable terrain and today their influence is felt through- 

out the state. Unfortunately, such communities are not as Christian 

today as they once were. There is a growing presence of Buddhist and 

Chinese religions and Buddhists make up 21% of the population. 

Mongolia. The country is primarily Buddhist, with strong 

shamanistic underpinnings despite the communist efforts to totally 

eradicate religious beliefs under their rule. Buddhism is thriving once 

again and monks are being sent out to spread Buddhism to other 

nations. The church in Mongolia is rather new and still quite weak 

except in the capital city where it is growing. 

Myanmar. Buddhists total 82% of the population (37 million). 

Buddhist animism carries great influence in daily life. The dictatorial 

regime has isolated the country and is carrying out a campaign of 

genocide against ethnic minorities, many of whom had moved toward 

Christianity. The strongly Buddhist Bamar majority has been difficult 

to reach and the church has remained very divided. 

Nepal. Nepal, although known officially as a Hindu nation, is 

probably more Buddhist in influence. Lumbini, in Nepal, is consid- 

ered the birthplace of Buddha by some and there are many strong 

pilgrimage points that draw Buddhists from around the world The 

presence of Tibetan refugees strengthens the influence of that branch 

of Buddhism in this nation as well. 

Philippines. Overwhelmingly a nominally Christian country, 

there are minorities of Buddhists (3% or 2,300,000). Of the 850,000 

Chinese, perhaps a tenth practice Chinese religions that are heavily 

based on Buddhism. Buddhism in the Philippines gained its foothold 

with the rise of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in Malaysia in the 

7th century and lasted until their decline in the 13th century. Active 

trading by Chinese and Indian merchants with native tribes brought 

Buddhist knowledge and iconography to the country. Archeaologi- 

cal finds in the Philippines unearthed priceless Buddhist statues and 

other artifacts dating to this era. Linguistic influence also left its 

indelible mark, with Buddhist concepts such as dukkha (suffering) 

and bodhi (knowledge) entering everyday speech. 

Russia. Buddhists total 0.7% of the population, or slightly over 

1 million. Three specific groups in Russia are strongly Buddhist: the 

Kalmyk in the Caucasus region, the Tuvans just north of Mongolia 

and the Buryat east of Lake Baikal. There is a revival of Buddhism 

not only among these groups but throughout the whole of Russia as 

people look for a path to freedom from guilt and for spirituality. The 

appearance of Buddhism as a religion of peace and harmony appeals 

to Russians struggling so desperately in their daily lives. New Bud- 

dhist centres are being established outside the traditionally Buddhist 

areas in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Obninsk, Nizhni- 

Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Varonesh. 

Singapore. Although heavily Westernized and with a strong 

Church presence, Buddhism still permeates the island. The Buddhist 

community is growing explosively, taking adherents from Islam, the 

non-religious, and older Chinese religions (the latter are heavily in 

decline). Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of Singaporeans 

above 15 years old who are Buddhists increased from 31% to 43% 

(1.8 million), the largest increase amongst all major religions. 

Sri Lanka. This is the oldest continually Buddhist country, 

Theravada Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its 

official introduction in the 2nd century BC. It is the state religion and 

is protected and promoted. Other religions are technically allowed but 

actually restricted. Buddhists number about 71% and are growing. 

Taiwan. Most Taiwanese mix Buddhism, Taoism and Con- 

fucianism into an organic whole. Buddhists number about 25% or 

5.6 million but Buddhism heavily influences most of the popula- 

tion. Buddhism is growing. Since 1980, Tantric Buddhism, esoteric 

practices and teachings developed between the 2nd and 4th centuries 

AD in India and subsequently developed in Tibet and other regions, 

has become increasingly popular in Taiwan. Exiled Tibetan monks 

have come to Taiwan, rapidly attracting large followings and thereby 

exercising a significant effect on Taiwan’s religious culture. Operation 

World notes Taiwan remains the only major Han Chinese population 

where a spiritual breakthrough has yet to come. 

Thailand. Buddhists total 92% of the population (56 million). 

Buddhist elements—temples, spirit houses, etc.—permeate the na- 

tion. Buddhism is in decline by only the smallest of margins, and 

is likely to maintain its pre-eminent place in society for decades or 

centuries without some significant breakthrough. Christianity is 

growing rapidly but forms only a very small portion (1% or slightly 

under 1 million). 

Vietnam. About 54% of the population (or 43 million) are 

Buddhists. The state controls all religions including Buddhism but 

Buddhism is maintaining its place in the population and Christian- 

ity is severely persecuted by the government. The Khmer are strongly 

Buddhist. Many resources exist that can be used to evangelize Viet- 

namese, but few workers are willing to go. 

By Justin Long and Liz Adleta[/lang_en]

[lang_en]An Overview of Buddhist-influenced countries (by Justin Long and Liz Adleta).

A daughter of Hinduism and deeply colored by it, Buddhism is a 

worldwide missionary faith within fluence over a billion people. Bud- 

dhists follow the teachings of Gautama, the Buddha, the Enlightened 

One. Its basic premises are: (1) life is suffering as a result of desire and 

the solution is to eliminate desire; (2) karma, one’s action and the re- 

sult of that action, inexorably determines one’s fate in life and beyond; 

(3) samsara is the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth, to 

which one is bound by his karma; (4) the only way out of this endless 

cycle is to follow the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, which will 

lead, through right insight and right effort, to nirvana—not heaven, 

but the cessation of life, like a candle snuffed out. 

A do-it-yourself religion, Buddhism has great appeal to the 

West. The Buddha did not offer help beyond showing the way. Gods 

are thought to be an illusion and Buddhists deny a Supreme Infinite 

Personal Being. It is reputed that Buddha attained enlightenment by 

self-effort and taught his followers to do the same. 

Buddhist peoples are found in 94 countries around the world 

and Buddhists live in virtually every country. In a recent paper pre- 

sented to SEANET, Todd Johnson (editor, World Christian Encyclope- 

dia) reports 1.38 billion individuals influenced or affiliated with Bud- 

dhism. Of the 238 people groups profiled in Paul Hattaway’s Peoples 

of the Buddhist world, 100 have communities located in more than one 

country. Here we will survey the most heavily-influenced countries. In 

future issues, we will examine the ethnic groups more closely, as well 

as the methodologies for counting Buddhists. Population estimates 

here come from the latest edition of Operation World; soon we hope to 

run an article about how researchers should properly count Buddhists. 

Bangladesh is overwhelmingly a Muslim state, the community of 

Buddhists in Bangladesh is growing. Bangladesh has one of the dens- 

est populations in the world—125 million with only 1 million Bud- 

dhists or 0.6% of the total population. The Buddhists of Bangladesh 

belong to four groups who have gradually mixed together: the Austic, 

the Tibeto-Burman, the Draviyans and the Aryans. 

Bhutan is the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, Bhutan 

is very remote. Non-Buddhist religions are barely tolerated and all 

evangelistic activity is banned. Buddhism (72%) is growing, making 

inroads in the traditional ethnic religions, and although Christianity 

is growing at a rate twice as fast as Buddhism, the very small church 

(est. 10,000 members) is still a tiny minority. 

Brunei is a Muslim state with a Buddhist minority. Buddhists are 

estimated between 9-20%, possibly as many as 60,000 people. Most 

are found amongst the Chinese involved in trade and business and 

Thai expatriate workers, both caught up with material concerns mak- 

ing them more resistant to the gospel. 

Cambodia is over 82% Buddhist, and Buddhism has been the 

national religion since the 15th century. Nearly 90% of all Buddhist 

monks were murdered by the Khmer Rouge (along with about equal 

numbers of Christians) following the communist takeover in 1975. 

But, the country is dominated by its Buddhist heritage: spirit houses 

are everywhere, and many Buddhist temples are considered archaeo- 

logical treasures and heritage sites. Today Buddhism is struggling to 

re-establish itself although the lack of Buddhist scholars and leaders 

and the continuing political instability are making the task difficult. 

China is estimated to be about 49% non-religious, 28% Chinese 

and 8% Buddhist, but the fact is most Chinese hold to beliefs that are 

essentially Buddhist in nature. Buddhists number at least 105 million 

in this country, and the number influenced by Buddhism either in 

a minor or major way could easily exceed 700 million. Buddhism is 

back strong as ever in the countryside and spreading in China’s cities 

too, especially the Tibetan version which has an exotic cultural appeal 

to young people searching for spiritual substance. 

Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of China, 

and a mostly secularized state. Many, however, are still influenced 

by Buddhism: estimated at 66% or 4.6 million. Over 360 Taoist and 

Buddhist temples are found in Hong Kong. 

India. Buddhists form a smaller minority (0.8% of the total) 

but are estimated at about 8 million people. Bihar is the birthplace 

of  Buddhism and Buddhist thinking, as in China, influences a wider 

population than that. Anti-conversion legislation and active persecu- 

tion complicates any outreach to Buddhists. Many Tibetans (Bud-

dhists) were exiled to China: over 130,000 estimated and the Dalai 

Lama is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh. Around 4,000-5,000 

Tibetans escape their native land every year, with most seeking refuge 

in India. There are 35 Tibetan settlements and numerous smaller 

communities in India. They seek to keep their cultural identity alive 

while adapting to life in a foreign country. In addition neo-Buddhists 

figure prominently as hundreds of thousands of Dalit and OBC 

(Other Backward Castes) seek to convert wholesale to Buddhism in 

protest against the caste system and other social evils against them. 

Indonesia. Most Buddhists are Chinese, numbering about 1.7 

million (0.8%) and significant in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Due to 

Chinese settlement on Borneo, Buddhism continues to thrive. The 

Borobudur temple, a massive complex in Central Java, was built more 

than 1,100 years ago (three centuries before Islam) and is still active. 

Japan. About 90 million (69%) consider themselves Buddhists, 

and new Buddhist cults make up another 24% or 30.9 million. 

Religious freedom is granted by the constitution but nationalistic 

Shintoism is rising in power. Buddhism is strongly mixed with ances- 

tor worship and other spiritistic beliefs. Extreme pressure to conform 

in society hinders people from acting freely and makes evangelism 

difficult. Religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the aver- 

age Japanese very strongly but is felt at key points in life. 

North and South Korea. Buddhism came via China in 372AD 

and flourished. There are over 25,000 Buddhist monks and nuns 

throughout South Korea looking after some 12,000 temples. About 

35% of South Koreans claim to be Buddhists, but many visit temples 

only 3-4 times a year. The influence of Buddhism is keenly felt in 

socio-political arena, academic circles, creative arts, geomancy, ritu- 

als and ceremonies. In the 1980’s when Christianity was enjoying 

revival throughout South Korea, Buddhism began to imitate much 

of Christianity by way of prayer styles, location of temples, etc. Today 

Buddhism is the fastest growing of all religions in Korea! 

Laos. Buddhists strongly influenced by animism make up the 

majority (61%) of the population which is growing. Most reports 

indicate Buddhism thrives in harmony with the communist regime. 

Persecution is fairly strong and the Church is divided. 

Malaysia. Several groups of Foochow Chinese Christians settled 

in central Sarawak, in 1901, fleeing persecution during the Boxer Re- 

bellion. They established a dynamic Christian community in the heart 

of quite inhospitable terrain and today their influence is felt through- 

out the state. Unfortunately, such communities are not as Christian 

today as they once were. There is a growing presence of Buddhist and 

Chinese religions and Buddhists make up 21% of the population. 

Mongolia. The country is primarily Buddhist, with strong 

shamanistic underpinnings despite the communist efforts to totally 

eradicate religious beliefs under their rule. Buddhism is thriving once 

again and monks are being sent out to spread Buddhism to other 

nations. The church in Mongolia is rather new and still quite weak 

except in the capital city where it is growing. 

Myanmar. Buddhists total 82% of the population (37 million). 

Buddhist animism carries great influence in daily life. The dictatorial 

regime has isolated the country and is carrying out a campaign of 

genocide against ethnic minorities, many of whom had moved toward 

Christianity. The strongly Buddhist Bamar majority has been difficult 

to reach and the church has remained very divided. 

Nepal. Nepal, although known officially as a Hindu nation, is 

probably more Buddhist in influence. Lumbini, in Nepal, is consid- 

ered the birthplace of Buddha by some and there are many strong 

pilgrimage points that draw Buddhists from around the world The 

presence of Tibetan refugees strengthens the influence of that branch 

of Buddhism in this nation as well. 

Philippines. Overwhelmingly a nominally Christian country, 

there are minorities of Buddhists (3% or 2,300,000). Of the 850,000 

Chinese, perhaps a tenth practice Chinese religions that are heavily 

based on Buddhism. Buddhism in the Philippines gained its foothold 

with the rise of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in Malaysia in the 

7th century and lasted until their decline in the 13th century. Active 

trading by Chinese and Indian merchants with native tribes brought 

Buddhist knowledge and iconography to the country. Archeaologi- 

cal finds in the Philippines unearthed priceless Buddhist statues and 

other artifacts dating to this era. Linguistic influence also left its 

indelible mark, with Buddhist concepts such as dukkha (suffering) 

and bodhi (knowledge) entering everyday speech. 

Russia. Buddhists total 0.7% of the population, or slightly over 

1 million. Three specific groups in Russia are strongly Buddhist: the 

Kalmyk in the Caucasus region, the Tuvans just north of Mongolia 

and the Buryat east of Lake Baikal. There is a revival of Buddhism 

not only among these groups but throughout the whole of Russia as 

people look for a path to freedom from guilt and for spirituality. The 

appearance of Buddhism as a religion of peace and harmony appeals 

to Russians struggling so desperately in their daily lives. New Bud- 

dhist centres are being established outside the traditionally Buddhist 

areas in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Obninsk, Nizhni- 

Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Varonesh. 

Singapore. Although heavily Westernized and with a strong 

Church presence, Buddhism still permeates the island. The Buddhist 

community is growing explosively, taking adherents from Islam, the 

non-religious, and older Chinese religions (the latter are heavily in 

decline). Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of Singaporeans 

above 15 years old who are Buddhists increased from 31% to 43% 

(1.8 million), the largest increase amongst all major religions. 

Sri Lanka. This is the oldest continually Buddhist country, 

Theravada Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its 

official introduction in the 2nd century BC. It is the state religion and 

is protected and promoted. Other religions are technically allowed but 

actually restricted. Buddhists number about 71% and are growing. 

Taiwan. Most Taiwanese mix Buddhism, Taoism and Con- 

fucianism into an organic whole. Buddhists number about 25% or 

5.6 million but Buddhism heavily influences most of the popula- 

tion. Buddhism is growing. Since 1980, Tantric Buddhism, esoteric 

practices and teachings developed between the 2nd and 4th centuries 

AD in India and subsequently developed in Tibet and other regions, 

has become increasingly popular in Taiwan. Exiled Tibetan monks 

have come to Taiwan, rapidly attracting large followings and thereby 

exercising a significant effect on Taiwan’s religious culture. Operation 

World notes Taiwan remains the only major Han Chinese population 

where a spiritual breakthrough has yet to come. 

Thailand. Buddhists total 92% of the population (56 million). 

Buddhist elements—temples, spirit houses, etc.—permeate the na- 

tion. Buddhism is in decline by only the smallest of margins, and 

is likely to maintain its pre-eminent place in society for decades or 

centuries without some significant breakthrough. Christianity is 

growing rapidly but forms only a very small portion (1% or slightly 

under 1 million). 

Vietnam. About 54% of the population (or 43 million) are 

Buddhists. The state controls all religions including Buddhism but 

Buddhism is maintaining its place in the population and Christian- 

ity is severely persecuted by the government. The Khmer are strongly 

Buddhist. Many resources exist that can be used to evangelize Viet- 

namese, but few workers are willing to go. 

By Justin Long and Liz Adleta[/lang_en]