Buddhism Observed Travelers Exiles and Tibetan Dharma in Kathmandu

by Peater Moran

-How do contemporary westerners and Tibetans understand not only what it means to be Buddhist but what it means to be hailed as one from the West or from Tibet? This anthropological study examines the encounter between western travelers and Tibetan exiles in Boudhanath on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal and analyses the importance of Buddhism in discussions of political cultural and religious identity.Tibetan Buddhism has become Bodhanath`s cultural product par excellence it is not only a spectacle for foreign tourists but a reminder of national culture for displaced Tibetans. Special focus is given here to the ways in which Tibetan Buddhism has been presented as an object to be observed.

About the Author:

-Peter Moran is director of academic programs in Kathmandu for both Trinity College, USA and the international honors program Boston University USA. He is also the academic director at the center for buddhist studies at Kathmandu University.