Exploring Individualisation Processes in Western Buddhism: A Multi-thematic Analysis of Interviews with English and Italian Practitioners

Abstract

Amongst the studies concerning Buddhism in the West, until now few have attempted to make an empirically based comparison between Buddhist practitioners from countries with different socio-religious backgrounds. This paper aims to contribute to filling this gap by analysing thirty multi-thematic qualitative interviews with lay practitioners connected in a variety of modalities to diverse Buddhist groups from England and Italy. The theoretical framework combines the concepts of individualisation, subjectivisation and bricolage to analyse the range of Buddhist interpretations and self-descriptions. The main research questions are: 1. What are the differences and affinities between practitioners of different nationalities belonging to diverse Buddhist traditions? 2. What is gained by applying the analytical framework? The paper argues that in most cases the decisive element is not nationality, but rather the connection with a specific Buddhist school. Furthermore, practitioners shape and at times challenge the ongoing processes examined in the theoretical framework.