About the Author

Sara Ann Swenson is an Assistant Professor in Religion at Dartmouth College, where she focuses on contemporary Buddhism in Vietnam. She holds a PhD and MPhil in Religion from Syracuse University, an MA in Comparative Religion from Iliff School of Theology, and a BA in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Swenson’s work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and social theory, offering a nuanced view of the role of Buddhism in modern Vietnam.

About the Book

In Near Light We Shine: Buddhist Charity in Urban Vietnam (Oxford University Press, 2025, part of the AAR Academy Series), Sara Ann Swenson presents one of the first major ethnographic studies on Vietnamese Buddhism, delving into how grassroots Buddhist charity movements have shaped the urban landscape of modern Vietnam. This pioneering book offers a new perspective on the intersection of religion, migration, urban development, and humanitarian efforts. Through detailed ethnographic research and interviews, Swenson brings to light the diverse and often marginalized voices involved in these charity movements, offering readers an unprecedented view of Buddhist charity in Vietnam.

As Vietnam's rapid urbanization strains public infrastructure, particularly in urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City, religious communities have stepped in to meet critical social service needs. Volunteers, often led by Buddhist practitioners, have adapted Buddhist teachings and practices to organize charity events that support the most vulnerable: low-income laborers, elderly women, migrant workers, and queer individuals. In Near Light We Shine, Swenson examines why people join these grassroots movements, exploring the philosophical and social dynamics that drive this kind of charity.

Swenson’s book draws from two years of ethnographic research in Ho Chi Minh City, offering deep insight into the intersection of Buddhism and charity and providing an analysis of the diverse motivations of volunteers and recipients alike. The book explores the tensions between different approaches to charity and altruism, revealing the philosophical and ontological disputes over what constitutes "true charity" in a rapidly changing society. Volunteers promote Buddhist cosmologies that are at times traditional, pro-socialist, skeptical, queer, and modern, shaping not just how they engage with charity, but how they view their role in transforming society.

By examining these movements through a Buddhist lens, Swenson explores how religion, charity, and social networks come together to create moral communities that address the complex issues brought on by urban migration and development in Vietnam. Near Light We Shine highlights how Buddhist charity is not just about giving but is deeply embedded in the creation of social meaning and the negotiation of power dynamics in contemporary Vietnam.

Key Themes and Insights

• Grassroots Buddhist Charity: The book explores how grassroots charity movements adapt Buddhist teachings to meet urban Vietnam’s growing humanitarian needs. These volunteers work to provide vital services like road construction, subsidized medicines, and food distribution.
  
   
• Philosophical and Ontological Debates: Swenson delves into the different philosophical underpinnings of charity, highlighting both the conflicts and collaborations between traditional Buddhist values, pro-socialist ideals, queer identities, and scientific approaches to charity.
  
   
• Diverse Perspectives on Altruism: The book gives voice to a range of marginalized Buddhist practitioners, including day laborers, queer men, elderly women, Buddhist nuns, and urban migrants, exploring how these groups engage with charity and the Buddhist tradition in deeply personal and transformative ways.
  
   
• Buddhism as Adaptable Resource: Near Light We Shine demonstrates how Buddhism functions as an adaptable resource for moral community building, both in the context of Vietnam’s urban development and in the global landscape of grassroots humanitarian work.
  
   

Why Read This Book?

Near Light We Shine is not just a study of charity; it is a profound exploration of how religious practices are reshaped by social, cultural, and political forces in a rapidly modernizing society. This book will appeal to scholars of religion, anthropology, Southeast Asian studies, and anyone interested in the intersection of religion, charity, and social justice in the context of urban Vietnam. Swenson’s ethnographic approach sheds light on the lived experiences of marginalized individuals within these movements, offering a more holistic understanding of Buddhist charity as a force for social transformation.

The book is now available from Oxford University Press. Pre-order your copy and engage with the first comprehensive study of grassroots Buddhist charity in Vietnam, with an exclusive 30% discount using code: AUFLY30.