Engaged Buddhism in Italy: Space, Practice, and Social Transformation
Religions December 12, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/rel16121564 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Buddhist communities in Italy, including university students participating in mindfulness and contemplative education programs |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Spiritualities Spirituality Transformative learning Power physics Contemplation Identity music Spiritual practice Epistemology Ethnography Social identity theory Agency philosophy Mental health Participant observation Reflexivity Social space Environmental ethics Transpersonal |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Argues that engaged Buddhist communities in Italy use physical space to foster spiritual experiences and transformation, with meditation contributing to psychological well-being, emotional regulation, and social connection. The authors propose that these centers renegotiate power relations and reconstruct identities, offering alternative models of coexistence and ethical responsibility. |
Abstract
This study explores the dynamics of engaged spiritualities within contemporary Buddhist communities in Italy. By employing an ethnographic approach, the research examines how physical space fosters spiritual experiences, facilitates social interactions, and serves as a site for personal and collective transformation. The study integrates insights from religious studies, anthropology, and neuroscience to analyse the cognitive and emotional effects of meditation while also engaging with Foucault’s theories on power and space to understand Buddhist centres as structured environments that shape individual and collective subjectivities. The research highlights how engaged Buddhism in Italy adapts traditional practices to contemporary challenges, particularly in response to mental health concerns among university students. Through participant observation and interviews conducted during mindfulness and contemplative education programmes, the study demonstrates how meditation contributes to psychological well-being, emotional regulation, and social connection. This analysis aligns with theoretical discussions on the conceptualisation of spirituality in modern societies, illustrating how engaged spiritualities manifest in secular and pluralistic contexts. The findings suggest that Buddhist spaces in Italy function not only as sites of religious practice but also as transformative environments where power relations are renegotiated, identity is reconstructed, and alternative ways of living emerge. The study further explores how scientific advancements in neuroscience inform spiritual practices, shedding light on the reciprocal relationship between spiritual yearning and scientific inquiry. Finally, the research contributes to the debate on the future of engaged spiritualities in the face of global crises. It argues that while Buddhist communities in Italy preserve traditional wisdom, they also actively shape new forms of spiritual engagement that respond to contemporary social, political, and environmental challenges. This work situates engaged Buddhism as a key player in fostering alternative models of coexistence, well-being, and ethical responsibility in the modern world.