Dharma Transmission and the Strategy for Localization ─ the case of Amitofo Care Center in Africa

• Main Authors: Hu Hua Chen, 胡華真(釋妙證)
• Other Authors: Shih Chao-Hwei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/te5gte

碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 宗教學系碩士班 === 102 === It has been noted that international humanitarian aid is to actualize the universal value through the cooperation of individuals and groups across different races, communities and religious beliefs with the common goal of helping the less fortunate. At the same time, differences in the reality of human culture, geo-environment and etc. comply aid groups to adapt themselves to difference situation. Amitofo Care Center (“ACC” hereafter) in Africa pays particular attention to the cultural difference of its aid target. Asides from providing aid to the locals, it also carries the mission of Dharma transmission. However, the critics of cultural erosion causes suspicion and obstacles for the ACC founder, monk Master Hui Li. Although he vows to transmit Dharma to all fifty-four countries in Africa, he also pays great care to the linguistic and cultural difference of Africa. At the time of writing this paper, ACC has been established for nine years and its affiliated school, Yuan Tung School, has also been opened. Sponsors of numerous countries eagerly await to see children of ACC to have a better future. I hope through an examination of the idea of cultural erosion to point out that Africa is no longer a colonized continent and we should not judge the works of ACC as cultural colonization.