Sufism and Zen in the West - by Saeko Yazaki & Michael Conway (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this book, scholars analyse the ways in which Sufism and Zen were introduced to and developed in the West. The collection shows that the popularity of these religions arose not because of the substantive shared elements within the two traditions, but because their promoters in the West employed similar strategies to respond to the interests of a modern, Western audience"--

Book Synopsis

Historically and culturally, Sufism and Zen may not seem to have anything in common. However, in the West, their spiritual messages are often perceived as strikingly similar. In this book, scholars analyse the ways in which Sufism and Zen were introduced to and developed in the West. The collection shows that the popularity of these religions arose not because of the substantive shared elements within the two traditions, but because their promoters in the West employed similar strategies to respond to the interests of a modern, Western audience. The first book to make a close comparison of Sufism and Zen, this study is an important contribution to understanding Western religious life and processes of 'easternisation'. It sheds new light on how Sufism and Zen came to represent a spirituality that is both countercultural and in touch with modern sensitivities.

Review Quotes

Rich in sources and case studies of the two traditions, this book even
challenges the preconceptions of scholars in the East. Yazaki and
Conway excellently organize the volume to exhibit this "tandem
analysis" as a groundbreaking contribution to rethinking the concept of
Buddhist modernism.
Tomoe Moriya, Senior Research Fellow, Nanzan University, Japan

This collection is essential for those who follow new religious movements in
the West, academically or personally. It traces major Sufi and Zen teachers
and lineages within the evolving social, political and cultural contexts of
the 20th/21st centuries, revealing pivotal moments of spiritual transmission
and charismatic embodiment across individuals and traditions.
Marcia Hermansen, Professor, Loyola University Chicago, USA

About the Author

Saeko Yazaki is Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow.

Michael Conway is Associate Professor at Otani University, Kyoto.