Buddhist Studies in Russia: “Eastern Project” by Stcherbatsky in the light of the 21st Century

Abstract

Almost two hundred years ago Buddhist studies were began by Russian missionaries (Iakinf Bichurin (1777–1853), Palladiy Kafarov (1817–1868) and academic scientists (J.I. Schmidt (1779–1847), V.P. Vasiliev (1818–1900), I.P. Minaev (1840–1890). At the beginning of the 20th century, in the Silver Age of Russian culture, the intellectual elite was so embraced by Buddhist ideas and charmed by East that it’s able to convince the government to build a Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg, to plan the rapprochement of the Russian Empire with Tibet, which was claimed by England, and to negotiate with the Dalai Lama XIII, who was forced to hide in Mongolia at that time. Methodology by Stcherbatsky at the Institute of Buddhist Culture consisted in combining the academic rigor of publications with the study of the living tradition of Buddhism in the regions of Russia. In total, there were three institutions of Buddhist Studies in Russian history. Their activity was emphasized on a fundamental approach to Buddhism as a world teaching. In 1967, the Sector of Buddhology was created by Gerasimova in Buryatia, and in the 80s – a group of Buddhist studies by Rudoy in Leningrad. Now we are again on an epochal break crest, searching the best world order’s paradigms. In recent decades, Buddhist studies have overflowed from academic community to the general public, and the East again became more relevant for Russia. So, the problems posed by Stcherbatsky are regaining their sharpness and require a modern approach.