Oldal 138 [138]
ALTAIBAATAR JARGAL — ERDENECHIMEG OMBOOSÜREN
of influence for raising public attention to targeted social groups, and for engaging
them in social work.
Activities of Buddhist NGOs in Mongolia
Mongolian law on State and Church relations, which has been in effect since 1993,
states that religious organizations in Mongolia shall carry out religious rituals, and
educational activities to meet religious demands of the devotees by establishing
church, monastery, datsan and centers. Within this framework, Buddhist organiza¬
tions have carried out their activities in the form of monasteries and temples. This is
not new however, from its earliest period until the end of the 20" century, Buddhist
organizations had conducted their activities in a single form of monastery. Their ac¬
tivities directed at the devotees were usually found in customary religious practices
those could influence the psychology of the majority in the society.
The main function of Buddhist monasteries is to exercise Buddhist rituals,
assembly and carry out educational activities in an organizational structure of
a monastery, temple, datsan and a governing body. The current organizational
structure of the Buddhist temples and monasteries is a pattern established back from
the second half of 16 century to early 20" century. Monasteries and monks serve the
religious community (devotees) by creating religious texts, books and performing
rituals and meetings.°
At the beginning of the 21“ century, with revival of Buddhism in Mongolia, in¬
termediate organizations, religious but public in nature, were formed as a religious
NGO, distinguished themselves from traditional Buddhist organizations (monas¬
tery, temple, denomination, etc.) by their organizational structure, management and
operational characteristics.’ When studying these organizations, a few reasons can
be identified as the cause of formation of such organizations:
1. There was a need for a new organizational structure and management to survive
in, and meet changing social systems and regimes in a globalized world.
2. There was a need for a functional form and design to meet spiritual demands
of highly informed and educated modern devotees, guaranteed a constitutional
freedom and right of religion (to or not to worship a religion).
3. Religious organizations needed to mature into modern organizations that con¬
sist of professional and skilled human resources with the capacity to adapt to,
and work in harmony, with the situation and time.
° Article 6.5 of Mongolian Law on State and Church Relations.
7 Altaibatar, J.: Saini baigiillagin xelber: itil ajillagani onclog. SUA, FSEX. Erdmin yerténc setgil 10.
Ulanbatar 2010.
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