The Currency of Devotion
Shuzhi Kuang
While Buddhism emphasizes inner peace and liberation, it also acknowledges the existence of the material world as part
of spiritual practice. For instance, people often make offerings at temples to seek the fulfillment of personal wishes.
In some situations, the attachment to the material may even dominate Buddhist practices. Thus, it becomes difficult to
distinguish between devotion and desire, as the two become intertwined.
This study explores the material world of Buddhism by investigating the underlying behavioral logic behind human desires
and the reasons people seek help from higher spiritual entities. It aims to uncover how individuals’ material needs,
aspirations, and devotions interact with their spiritual practices and beliefs, and how these elements contribute to the
formation of hierarchies in Buddhist communities.
Thesis Book
This book is composed of three elements: an interview compilation, a section on offerings, and a fabric wrap as its packaging.
The interview compilation brings together stories from various individuals, recounting their wish-making rituals in
temples or their enduring engagement with Buddhist culture.
Included with the book is an offering containing a string of prayer beads and dried lily petals. These objects reflect
how material forms are inseparable from spiritual expression, as devotion and desire often become intertwined in practice.
Proof of Concept
Proof of Concept is a derivative work of the book—a reenactment of a praying ritual in which people present material offerings in pursuit of their desires.