Nepálból Nógrádba. A buddhizmus globalizációjának vizsgálata buddhaszobrok életútján keresztül
From Nepal to Nógrád County, Hungary. Examining the globalization of Buddhism through the life histories of Buddha statues

Summary/Abstract: What are Nepalese Buddha statues doing in a village of 500 in Nógrád County, Hungary? The aim of our research is to understand the practice and manifestations of Buddhism in Hungary through one aspect of the use of sacred objects, namely that of Buddha statues, by a Buddhist community of approximately 45 people settled in a Nógrád County village. We began our fieldwork in February 2024, as part of which we traced the journey of the sculptures from their place of origin, the Kathmandu Valley, to their arrival in Hungary. Our main questions were what meanings a Buddha statue may carry during its life, what roles it can play in the social interactions surrounding its life, and what behavioral patterns other actors in the field can contribute to the construction of its roles. Our study, starting from religious materiality, fits into the theoretical framework of global Buddhism. We conducted our fieldwork using the methodology of multi-sited and relational ethnography, examining the social and cultural relationships of the sculptures through object biographies. During our research, we have compiled a scientific toolkit that has enabled us to research global Buddhism from an anthropological perspective. In our photo essay, we present the different phases of the journey of the Buddha statues we follow, starting from their place of origin, as they move through profane and sacred, public and private spaces, in both formal and informal, festive and everyday situations, between Nepal and Hungary, while constantly interacting with their environment.

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