A sôtôshû no Brasil : missionârios nikkeis e não-nikkeis

This chapter analyses the history of the arrival of the Sôtôshû School of Zen Buddhism in Brazil. It demonstrates that there were two types of kaikyôshi (missionaries) sent to Brazil: those who subscribed to modern Buddhism, and those who belonged to traditional Buddhism. This division mirrored that between the nikkei (Japanese Brazilians) and non-nikkei congregations in the country. As a result, there are two definitions of Zen-Buddhism in Brazil, both claiming to practice the true and authentic Zen-Buddhism. For traditional kaikyôshi and Japanese Brazilians Zen involves funeral rituals and memorials, while for modern Buddhism kaikyôshi and non-nikkei Zen is the experience of enlightenment. I argue that the mission in Brazil was never isolated from the other Sôtôshû missions in the world. The local Brazilian conflict and negotiations are very similar to what took place in other missions because kaikyôshi circulated among these sites carrying with them ideas, techniques and experiences of proselytization in the various missions outside of Japan.