The Encounter Between Buddhism and the West

Essay

Presentation

From Alexander the Great to Marco Polo, from Schopenhauer to Nietzsche, from Jung to Alexandra David-Neel, many Western travelers, thinkers, and artists have been captivated by the wisdom of the Buddha. This book recounts the major stages of the encounter between Buddhism and the West. It shows how Buddhism was and remains profoundly reinterpreted through distorting cultural lenses. It also helps us understand why, after the failure of religious, scientific, and political ideologies, Buddhism is experiencing a growing audience in the West. Many see in this philosophy and ethics a relevant approach to meeting the spiritual needs of individuals. By prioritizing action on oneself over action on the world, Buddhism could be called upon to correct the excesses of a Western civilization too preoccupied with technological mastery at the expense of meaning and inner life.

Translations

Korean: SEJONG BOOK
Spanish: SEIX BARRAL
Czech: VOLVOX GLOBATOR