The Awakening of the West: The Encounter of Buddhism and Western Culture

By Stephen Batchelor

"Stephen Batchelor's erudite and graceful book supplies a very important piece of the complex, intriguing puzzle that is the still-evolving encounter between East and West."--Rick Fields, Editor of Yoga Journal and author of How the Swans Came to the Lake

"This is an epic that reads like a novel...destined to become a classic." --Christina Feldman, Inquiring Mind

"I cannot decide whether to commend it more for the wide-ranging information it draws together, or for the lively way it presents it." --Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions.

The Awakening of the West is a lively history of the West's encounters with Buddhism during the past 2,000 years. From Greek kings to nineteenth century adventurers; from Jesuit missionaries to twentieth century monks, the encounter of Buddhism and the West is filled with vivid personalities and intriguing stories. The Awakening of the West is destined to become a classic of religious history and essential reading for all who want to understand Buddhism in the West.

Born in Scotland, Stephen Batchelor has studied in Buddhist centers in India, Korea, and Switzerland and England. He is author of The Faith to Doubt (page 29), The Tibet Guide and many other books.

Paperback, 432 pages

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