In this perceptive exploration of how a great Asian religious tradition is taking root and being transformed on American soil, Richard Seager offers an engaging portrait of the communities, institutions, practices, and individuals integral to understanding the contemporary Buddhist landscape. The book begins with a brief introduction to Buddhist beliefs and history in both Asian and the U.S. Seager then presents six well-crafted profiles of Buddhist traditions that have been brought over from Japan, Tibet, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere, highlighting challenges and problems that have come with transporting and adapting an Asian religion to the U.S. The last section takes up the general theme of Americanization, looking at recent developments in three important areas gender equity, progressive social change, and intra-Buddhist and interreligious dialogue.
