The Role of Buddhism in Everyday Life of Congregants of Kyzyl: Preliminary Research

 Introduction. The article addresses the issue of ‘ordinary’ religiosity of believers in Kyzyl, namely the role of Buddhism as a religion in their everyday life. The conducted ethnographic research (individual in-depth interviews with the laity and clergy of Tuva’s Buddhist temples) results in a generalized analysis and interpretation of the degree of religiosity of Tuva’s Buddhist population, outlines the role of Buddhism in their daily lives, and attempts a generalized culturological assessment of how that religiosity gets manifested in their day-to-day routine. The study highlights the dynamic interaction between religion and everyday life in Tuva. Goals. So, the paper seeks to establish the role of Buddhism in Tuvan believers’ daily life and specify its peculiarities, reveal important factors of ‘ordinary’ religiosity of Buddhist congregants in Kyzyl. Methods and materials. The work employs some ethnographic methods and those of qualitative data analysis, the main research method being a qualitative one — that of individual in–depth interviews. The latter make it possible to investigate the field in question as deeply, accurately and thoroughly as possible, to obtain reliable and relevant research material. It is noteworthy that the interviews included the use of the free-list method, which yielded individual data on each respondent’s Buddhist knowledge. Conclusions. The preliminary research reveals the formation of a new type of religiosity in Tuva distinguished by certain regional characteristics. This definitely requires a more sophisticated approach to religious studies that should comprise interdisciplinary components. The insufficient competence of older generations in religious matters gives rise to a vacuum that contributes to the emergence of somewhat ‘personal religions’. At the current level of religious development, Tuvans probably need an understandable and convenient religious system, which, in turn, may become an obstacle to deeper interest in Buddhism as a philosophy. Religious studies in the region are still relevant and require further attention.

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