Many developments in Buddhist history, such as lay movements and the assimilation of warrior practices, reflect the impact of widespread social changes on traditional religious structures, yet Buddhism has been able to maintain its doctrinal purity to a remarkable degree. This book explores how.

"Manages to give a flavor of adaptations made and being made within Buddhism, not merely as a result of its encounter with modernization, but also because of its historical diversity. In a book that probably has a chapter or two to fit everyone's interests--perusal of the index certainly gave me room for optimism--I found it rewarding also to find areas new to me addressed in accessible and engaging ways."--Journal of Global Buddhism "This volume should be of general interest to scholars of religion. For Buddhologists, in particular, it addresses a lacuna in the field and marks a step forward in considering the complex issues raised by Buddhist modernism."--The Journal of Asian Studies "Manages to give a flavor of adaptations made and being made within Buddhism, not merely as a result of its encounter with modernization, but also because of its historical diversity. In a book that probably has a chapter or two to fit everyone's interests--perusal of the index certainly gave me room for optimism--I found it rewarding also to find areas new to me addressed in accessible and engaging ways."--Journal of Global Buddhism "This volume should be of general interest to scholars of religion. For Buddhologists, in particular, it addresses a lacuna in the field and marks a step forward in considering the complex issues raised by Buddhist modernism."--The Journal of Asian Studies

Selling point: Fascinating treatment of how the traditional Buddhist communities of Asia have responded to the challenges of modernity Selling point: The most comprehensive available overview of Asian Buddhism today

Steven Heine is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Asian Studies at Florida International University. Among his many publications are Dogen and the Koan Tradition (1994), Japan in Traditional and Postmodern Perspectives (1995), The Zen Poetry of Dogen (1997), Shifting Shape, Shaping Text (1999), The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism (OUP, 2000), and Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters (OUP, 2002). Dr. Heine was recently awarded the Kauffman Professorship in Entrepreneurship Studies at the Florida International University Business School. Charles S. Prebish is Professor of Religious Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. He is the author or editor of many books, including Historical Dictionary of Buddhism (1993), A Survey of Vinaya Literature (1994), Luminous Passage: The Practice and Study of Buddhism in America (1999), and Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia (2002). He is a founding co-editor of the online Journal of Buddhist Ethics.

Selling point: Fascinating treatment of how the traditional Buddhist communities of Asia have responded to the challenges of modernity Selling point: The most comprehensive available overview of Asian Buddhism today