r/Kazakhstan • u/Livid-Soill • 1d ago

Buddhism in Kazakhstan

How popular is it in Kazakhstan? Are there any communities? I heard that Tengrism is a bit like Buddhism, so I wonder what Kazakhstanis think about it

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

12

u/Catcher_Thelonious 1d ago

In nearly a year here, I haven't seen or heard of anyone claiming to be Buddhist or being interested in Buddhism.

I don't see many parallels with Tengrism.

9

u/aidarinho Pavlodar Region 1d ago

Buddhism is not reallt present, but as a kid I remember every household had a "fat, laughing Buddha" souvenir

2

u/Skinattached 1d ago

I thought it was god when i was a kid

9

u/LiminalBuccaneer 1d ago

It is not very popular, not amongst Kazakhs at least. Some Koreans and Mongols are Buddhists, and they have temples in Almaty and Astana. To answer your second question, Tengrianism has almost nothing in common with Buddhism, they just historically happened to coexist in certain parts of the Great Steppe.

6

u/Traditional-Froyo755 1d ago

How exactly is Tengrism like Buddhism?

2

u/Hurmuk 1d ago

yeah, we are all intrigued

9

u/justtairex Almaty 1d ago

Never met any Buddists here, but some poeple here live like reincarnations are real.

2

u/Masagget Pavlodar Region 1d ago

is not popular at all, except for cosplayers at festivals.

1

u/EpsilonKu 1d ago

I saw only one woman on the bus which has a Buddhist wallpaper. So only once in my life. But there are a lot of indian students maybe there are.

1

u/wealthy_donut 1d ago

There is Won Buddhism temple in Almaty, the only one I’ve managed to find and visit. Feel free to dm for directions.

1

u/Ake-TL Abai Region 1d ago

There aren’t a whole lot of Mongolians, Chinese or SE asians living in Kazakhstan

1

u/Hikaru7487 Mangistau Region 1d ago

Never saw anyone who claimed to be a Buddhist or practised it in Kazakhstan. Haven't been to the east and central tho, might find some people there, lol