Research on Malaysian Buddhism
in collaboration with UTAR
Proposed Topics of Research on Malaysian Buddhism
Theme I: Social Research on Malaysian Buddhism
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Impact of social change:
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Urbanisation, mobility, nucleus family, and their impact on Malaysian Buddhism
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Practice of worship or rituals at home – trend and challenges
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Impact of values of contemporary civil society on Malaysian Buddhism.
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Westernisations/modernisation and its impact on Malaysian Buddhism
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Inter-religious relationship
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Causes/reasons for conversion in or out of Buddhism or traditional Chinese beliefs.
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Buddhist-Muslim civilizational interactions
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Perception of non-Buddhists on Buddhists.
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Causes/reasons for the spread of deviant Buddhist sects
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Inter-religious dialogues or interactions
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Impact of public policies
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Impact of Islamisation on Buddhist movement
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Impact of government policies/laws on religious freedom
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Impact of globalisation
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Impact of economic globalisation on Malaysian Buddhism
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Impact of cultural globalisation on Malaysian Buddhism
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Impact of Transnational Buddhist organisations on Malaysian Buddhism
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Global impact of Malaysian Buddhism.
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Impact of media messages on Malaysian Buddhism
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Impact of Science and technology:
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Ethical issues arising from stem cells, bio technology.
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Ethical issues related to birth control, abortion, IVF.
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Widespread sensual enjoyment through modern gadgets and its impact on Malaysian Buddhism.
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Theme II : Research on Malaysian Buddhist movement per se
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Buddhist education
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Profile of children Dhamma classes (teacher, students, teaching aids and materials, facilities, support, etc)
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Study on Children Dhamma classes from various perspectives, eg from students response, drop out rate, teacher’s commitment, Buddhist society’s commitment, challenges, etc)
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Strategies to improve children Dhamma classes
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Effectiveness of Buddhist publications.
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A survey on the reading habits of Buddhists, a case example of Buddhist Digest (Chinese) or Voice of Buddhism, or Eastern Horizon.
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Strategies to attract youths, types and effectiveness of programme.
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Leadership development:
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Types of leadership development programmes available, survey on qualities of leaders, areas of improvement required.
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Organisational development
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Study the organisational structures, management of some Buddhist organisations.
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Monks’ Education and Training
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Census on monks/nuns in Malaysia
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A survey on monks/nuns educational background/ training
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Social Engagement
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Socially Engaged Buddhism in Malaysia
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Humanistic Buddhism in Malaysia
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Buddhist contribution on blood and organ donation
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Buddhist contribution on vegetarianism
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Buddhist contribution to nation building
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Buddhist response or contribution in palliative care
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Dhamma propagation
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Impact of hymns in Dhamma propagation
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Modern technologies used in Dhamma propagation (U-tube, Video, Social media, etc, )
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Use of public media in Dhamma propagation.
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