Thai Buddhism in the Buddhist World: A Survey of the Buddhist Situation Against a Historical Background

The book is divided into four main parts. Part I, “Thai Buddhism: The Overall Picture,” introduces the Buddha, the basic teachings of Buddhism, and the social-religious structure of Thai Buddhism, including present-day Thai Buddhist life, monks and monasteries, Buddhism in Thai history, and the administration of the Buddhist Order. Part II, “The Spread and Development of Buddhism,” surveys the historical expansion of Buddhism from India into Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan, and related regions. Part III, “Buddhism in the Modern World,” examines Buddhist revival and transformation in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan, and contemporary Thailand, with attention to nationalism, modernization, reform, and the role of monastic institutions. Part IV, “Buddhism in the Western World,” presents the scholarly beginnings of Western Buddhism, the contributions of European and American scholars, the rise of public interest, Buddhist meditation, Zen, Buddhist studies, Buddhism and science, and the continuing encounter between Buddhism and the West.