I min uppsats har jag försökt visa två sidor av buddhismen; den teoretiska och den praktiska. Jag började med att skissera fram den allmängiltiga bilden av Buddha som av många, inklusive mig själv, ses som buddhismens förgrundsgestalt. Sedan analyserade jag den litteratur från gymnasiet som används i det praktiska arbetet i religionskunskap och drog snäva linjer som hela tiden utgick ifrån mina grundfrågor; hur förmedlas bilden av den historiska Buddha och hur tar man upp kvinnan i religionen. Jag kom fram till att buddhismen i böckerna ägnas väldigt lite utrymme, oftast inte mer än 30 sidor ? och att bilden av Siddharta och dennes väg till upplysning många gånger var förenklad (exempelvis i Börje Rings Religion och sammanhang.) Bilden av kvinnan förmedlades även den sparsamt, och de gånger den gick att finna kändes den stressig och kompakt, exempelvis i Religion A av Elm & Thulin där nunnor i förbigående nämns ett fåtal gånger, och detta i samma andemening som munkarna.

This study is based on qualitative and hermeneutic methods. The investigation summarises how four textbooks present Buddhism in (school) subject Religion, such as texts and images. Two of them are used in Religious studies A, the rest is used in Religious studies 1. The study rests on the theories of orientalism and christocentrism, where both can be related to the concept of making secondary. In the research background there are descriptions of how the western world looks upon Buddhism in a historical perspective, but also how Buddhism in a modern age is represented.

Western scholars have long sought to grasp the essence of and explain Buddhism. Western representation of Buddhism has been in a manner that reflects their concerns and interests. In addition to this it is also known that Buddhism in Sweden is seen in a favorable way. This study tries to locate where this positive attitude toward Buddhism stems from and if it is represented in this manner in Swedish textbooks. Therefore three textbooks of upper secondary class of religion are to be examined, not only to see if there is a positive attitude towards it, but to see in what manner Buddhism is depicted in Swedish schools on the whole.

Qigong was initiated by the Chinese government in the 1950´s as a domestic medical tradition to be included within a modern scientific framework. During the first decades it became popular among the élite. During the 70´s and 80´s scientific confirmation of the existence of qi contributed to its immense popularity among the population. Charismatic leaders with a traditional background were leading their groups in parks and the movement was booming. In 1992 Falun Gong was established by Li Hongzhi as qigong taken to a higher level.