Badiner, Allan, ed. Dharma Gaia. Berkeley: Parallax, 1990.

I would consider Dharma Gaia to be one of the better books to use for the understanding of Buddhist environmental ethics. It is a collection of essays by various authors (from Thich Nhat Hanh to the Dalai Lama himself) regarding the need to look at the world as an interdependent being, composed of interconnected parts that must work together in order that the whole survive. What this does for the scholar of American Buddhism is that it provides an understanding of the spiritual side of Buddhist environmentalism, according to Buddhists themselves. This is important because the scholar must know from where the socially engaged American Buddhist takes the root of social action. Also, it does not focus specifically upon America, and thus suggests a way in which to watch the development of the eco-Buddhist movement from the "East" to the "West."

Batchelor, Stephen. The Awakening of the West: The Encounter of Buddhism and Western Culture. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1994.

This is one book that I should have read. Unfortunately, I have not had the time. It comes highly recommended by Charles Prebish and my mentor at Dickinson College. Hopefully, I will get to read it soon.

Boucher, Sandy. Turning the Wheel: American Women creating the New Buddhism. Boston: Beacon Press, 1993.

Boucher’s book, along with Lenore Friedman’s Meetings..., is one of the best sources for an comprehension of American Buddhism from the female perspective. Boucher not only points to the importance of women in their creative aspect for American Buddhism, but she also points out many of the issues that face women in Zen Centers, Dharma Centers, and Buddhist monasteries of America. Especially poignant are the chapters entitled "Conspiracy of Silence: The Problem of the Male Teacher" (Chapt. 5), "Bridges: The Link Between Buddhist Practice and Political Activism" (Chapt. 6), and Chapter 7, "Living Together: The Integration of Buddhist Practice with Family Life, Job, and Community." All are relevant not only to the scholars of American Buddhism, but also to the non-academic community, who wish to know more about the way in which American Buddhist manage their "lay" existence and a philosophy dominated by men and social hierarchies.

---. Opening the Lotus: A Women’s Guide to Buddhism. Boston: Beacon Press, 1997.

Supposedly this book by Boucher has come out this year, but I have yet to see it.

Cabezon, Jose Ignacio, ed. Buddhism, Sexuality, and Gender. Albany: SUNY Press, 1992.

Chopra, P. N., ed. Contributions of Buddhism to World Civilization and Culture. Atlantic Highlands: Humanities Press, 1983.

De Jong, J. W. A Brief History of Buddhist Studies in Europe and America. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1987.

A brief (as the title suggests) look at the Buddhist scholarship in Europe and America from the about the 19th century to the present. I did not find this book terribly useful, except as potentially a real historical reference. Should I need to research pre-American contact with Buddhism (for example, how Europe came to know of Buddhism), this is book to go to. It has extensive bibliographic material listed within. What is especially good about it is that speaks of French scholarship in Buddhist Studies (noteworthy especially is the work of Eugène Burnouf).

Eppsteiner, Fred, and Dennis Maloney, eds. The Path of Compassion: Contemporary Writings on Engaged Buddhism. Berkeley and Buffalo: Buddhist Peace Fellowship/White Pine Press, 1985.

An excellent book about engaged Buddhist movements, in America and throughout the world. Many articles by Thich Nhat Hanh, explaining many of his thoughts on the need for Buddhists to be socially active.

Fields, Rick. How the Swans Came to the Lake: A Narrative History of Buddhism in America. Boulder: Shambhala, 1992.

This book and Tweed’s American Encounter with Buddhism, offer the two most comprehensive histories of Buddhism in America that can be found. Fields’ book is the easier read of the two; his style is less academic than that of Tweed. However, like many of the "literature" of American Buddhism, his is as much a use for the academic as well as the non-academic student of American Buddhism. One of the most appealing parts of Fields’ book is the way in which it is ordered. First, he offers a brief account of the historic Buddha and the basic principles of Buddhism--geared toward the "Western" mind. Then, he details the migration of Buddhism from its birthplace in India to other places in the "East" to finally Western Europe and America. Finally, he shows how Buddhism came to the United States, grew, and maintained a life of its own. Furthermore, he introduces many of the key figures in the development of American Buddhism, from D.T. Suzuki (the most influential in Zen Buddhism) to Jack Kerouac to the Dalai Lama himself. This is a must read own for either the scholar or the practitioner of American Buddhism.

Friedman, Lenore. Meetings with Remarkable Women: Buddhist Teachers In America. Boston: Shambhala, 1987.

One of the most talked about issues in American Buddhism is the issue of feminization. Outside of the "East," women are becoming more and more involved in the daily teaching and practicing of Buddhism. This has been a great phenomenon in America especially, where "approximately 50 percent of Buddhist practitioners are women" (Prothero, 89). The book by Friedman is, I think, one of the premier books about women in Buddhism. She lists various figures, (for example, Bobby Rhodes, who is a looming figure in the engaged Buddhism movement) and allows them to speak about issues they find relevant, whether they be daily routines or social concerns.

Gross, Rita M. Buddhism after Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis and Reconstruction of Buddhism. Albany: SUNY Press, 1993.

Gross, who teaches at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, focuses her book on one of the major issues within the study of Buddhism today -- gender roles. I discuss later on that the feminization of Buddhism has been one of the questions raised in American Buddhism; Where does the equal rights fit into a philosophy dominated by men and monks? Does Buddhism in America resist women as sensai or priest? This question of power and gender is what Gross speaks of in her book.

Harrison, Gavin. In the Lap of the Buddha. Boston: Shambhala, 1994.

A touching and personal look at the subject s of AIDS, abuse, and homosexuality in the light of Buddhism. I find this book particularly useful because it talks about, like no other book I have read, the difficulties of homsexuality, even within the Buddhist context (often considered by some to be more "lenient" of diversity and free of criticism of others). The book does however, deal with the question from the perspective from this American who is trying to get even this peaceful and accepting philosophy to accept him. I think it a valuable book because it brings to light, better than some books I have seen, one of the more dominant questions in America (and around the world) today: the question of homsexual rights and priveleges and acceptance. It is important from a scholarly perspective because Harrison offers his understanding of the historical Buddha and his views on homosexuality, as well as homosexuality and Buddhism over time.

Hunter, Louise. Buddhism in Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1971.

Inada, Kenneth K. and Nolan P. Jackson, eds. Buddhism and American Thinkers: The Buddhist American Encounter in Philosophy. Albany: State University of New York, 1984.

Kapleau, Philip. To Cherish all Life: A Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian. Rochester: The Zen Center, 1986.

Kapleau is one of the most well-known Zen teachers in America. He is the founder and director of the Zen Center at Rochester, New York and has also authored one of the most popular books on Zen, entitled The Three Pillars of Zen (not in bibliography because I think this work of his is more important in the larger scheme of American Buddhism). Frankly, this book has a shocking edge to it. While Kapleau is a Buddhist, he is also a ardent supporter of animal rights. This book, to me, is more important for the study of American Buddhism because it is a most telling way to alter the conscious of Americans. His goal is to shock and teach Americans about animal rights and the Buddhist view on vegetarianism, which while a normal practice in the"East," in not as commonplace in America. I find this work valuable in that it expresses one way in which American Buddhists attempt to use Buddhist philosophy to promote social change.

Kashima, Tetsuden. Buddhism in America: the social organization of an ethnic religious institution. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1977.

A great book about ethnic Japanese Buddhism in America. Not really a great interest of mine, as I wish to focus on American Buddhist converts. However, I could potentially use this for a comparison between ethnic Japanese-American Buddhists and non-ethnic Japanese Buddhists.

Kornfield, Jack. "Is Buddhism Changing in North America." In Don Morreale (ed.), Buddhist America: Centers, Retreats, Practices. Sante Fe: John Muir Publications, 1988, pp. xi-xxviii.

This is the first piece I read on the state of Buddhism in America. Describes Kornfield’s thoughts on the "look" of Buddhism.

Kotler, Arnold, ed. Engaged Buddhist Reader. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1996.

One of the more interesting books for Engaged Buddhism, especially in America. This is a compilation of essays that focus on Buddhism in its more "active" sense, allowing the interpretation of Buddhist philosophy in/ through the lens of social activism. I consider this work to be very terribly important for American Buddhism in that it offers more of a textual/philosophic base to an emerging strain of American Buddhists.

Layman, Emma. Buddhism in America Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers, 1976.

One of the first true works about Buddhism in America. According to Charles Prebish, in his American Buddhism of 1979, Layman’s work is something he was trying to do, but she beat him to it. While this is not the most recent of the works I cite specific to American Buddhism in an academic sense, I consider it to be one of the best early works. It brings to light much of the history of the phenomenon known as American Buddhism, and it describes (not always in enough detail) the major players and the turning points in American Buddhist history. A must read, and good first look.

Lauf, Detlef I. Secret Doctrines of the Tibetan Books of the Dead. Boulder: Shambhala, 1977.

A textual look at Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient folk religion known as Bon. This is also a good book for comparison, as it offers a "Western" conception of death.

Numrich, Paul D. Old Wisdom in the New World. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1996.

This book comes highly recommended by Professor Lester. It focuses on Therarvada Buddhism in America, especially among the immigrant population. Unfortunately, for my particular interests, the book holds little value, other than for its description of two Theravada communities in Los Angeles and Chicago. While it offers some insight into the numbers of Theravada Buddhists in America, it does little to help me understand Buddhist converts -- my primary interests.

---. Americanization in Immigrant Theravada Buddhist Temples. Northwestern University, Ph.D. Dissertation, 1992.

Prebish, Charles. American Buddhism. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1979.

This is considered to be one of the first great works in American Buddhism. As I have stated before (or will state later on in the profile), Charles Prebish is THE scholar of American Buddhism. He is the first one I sought out in doing the research for this profile. I had not found this book until I got to Boulder (strange, eh?). This book is divided into three parts: the first is similar to Tweed’s work and Fields,’ for it outlines Buddhism’s entry into America and describes the development of Buddhism from the about the time of the World Parliament of Religions (1893) to the present (1970’s). Finally, the first section looks to identify the changes in Buddhism with its entrenchment in America. The second section focuses on various Buddhist "groups" or traditions in America. Finally, he talks about the future of Buddhism in America. He admittedly takes a different assumption from Emma Layman’s work: he thinks (at this time anyway -- I think he feels differently now) that Buddhism has had no impact on America. He finally offers that for Buddhism to not just be a "passing fad" and to truly have an impact on America, it must become "fully American" (whatever that means) and be responsive to "our" (American) religious needs. I realize that the situation for American Buddhism was different during the 1970’s, but I don’t agree with his initial assumption. While I agree that Layman’s work is a bit overestimated, I can’t agree that there was no effect either. My understanding of the "Beat" years and especially directly after WWII, during which time American university religion departments began to offer courses on Buddhism, seems to suggest more of a response by Americans to Buddhism. Just a thought...something to be researched later.

---. The Practice and Study of Buddhism in America. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998?

(forthcoming)

---. "Reflections of the Transmission of Buddhism to America." In Jacob Needleman and George Baker (eds.), Understanding New Religions. New York: Seabury Press, 1978, pp. 153-73.

---. "The Academic Study of Buddhism in the United States: A Current Analysis." Religion 24 (1994), 271-2778.

Prebish, Charles and Kenneth Tanaka, eds. The Faces of Buddhism in America. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.

(forthcoming)

Basically, I should read all of these. As Prebish is THE scholar of American Buddhism, his work is primary for its scholars. In fact, Charles Prebish is the one that recently told me about the impending publication of these books. He informs me that they will be influential in the development of the field.

Prothero, Stephen. The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996.

Queen, Christopher and Sallie King, eds. Engaged Buddhism. Albany: SUNY Press, 1996.

While not totally relevant to the study of American Buddhism (this book deals with social engagement in Asia), I find this book valuable for a couple of reasons. First, Christopher Queen, of Harvard Divinity School, has been recently interested in American Buddhism. He (along with Ph.D. student Duncan Williams) hosted a conference at Harvard (May 23-25, 1997) on the subject of American Buddhism. He also taught a course (Fall semester 1997) at Harvard Divinity School on American Buddhism. (He even sent me a course syllabus just so I could know if what I was talking about here made some sense!) His continued work in American Buddhism, as well as his interest, makes an insight he might have on Buddhism, valuable. Secondly, engaged Buddhism is one of the more interesting areas of study for scholars of American Buddhism. Because Buddhism has traditionally been a monastic religion, it is an interesting phenomenon that Buddhists are finding the need to turn "outward" and seek social change. Thus, this book offers too the insight into social movements of Buddhists around the world -- study of these is invaluable for an understanding of American Buddhist social engagement (in the sense that the doctrine is essentially the same, as well as the need for social restructuring everywhere).

Queen, Christopher S. and Duncan Ryuken Williams. American Buddhism: Methods and Findings in Recent Scholarship. Surrey, UK: Curzon Press, 1998.

(forthcoming)

Also told to me by Prebish and Chris Queen. This book is due out next year and is the work of both Queen and Williams (a graduate student at Harvard) who hosted a conference at Harvard University on May 23-25, 1997. This book is a result of the "happenings" of this conference entitled "American Buddhism Transformed: Methods and Findings in Recent Scholarship" (hence the title of the book).

Schiller, Lauren Marie. Buddhism in Contemporary America. Southern Connecticut State University, M.S. Dissertation, 1994.

The conclusion of her dissertation/thesis seem to mirror the article of Kornfield’s, as well as my discussion with Prof. Simmer-Brown,stating that Buddhism in America is characterized by lay practice that is integrated into society in various ways (social actions, health care, etc.).

Sidor, Ellen. A Gathering of Spirit: Women Teaching in American Buddhism. Providence: Primary Point Press, Kwan Um Zen School, 1987.

Spirelli, Dominick. "Losing the Beat: A Revision of American Buddhist Patriarchy."

http://www.hooked.net/~csangha/spirw95.html.

Like the Rita Gross book, this article (from Cybersangha: The Buddhist Alternative Journal) focuses on the power/leadership among Buddhists around the country. It specifically focuses upon some of the Beat Poets (Kerouac, Watts, etc.) and how they would become the Buddhist leaders for the Baby Boomer Generation, as well as the changes made in American Buddhist leadership over time.

Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Ed. Trudy Dixon. New York: John Weatherhill, 1970.

Tamney, Joseph. American Society in Buddhist Mirror. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1992.

Tamney’s book is the first attempt (that I have come across anyway) at an integration of the psychology of religion and the history of Buddhism in America. Tamney takes a look at why Americans, from the Transcendental period to the present day, have taken to Buddhism in all its various forms (Mahayanna, Theravada, Tibetan). His approach takes him through the "personal" interest in Buddhism of the Theosophists and Beats, to the "intellectual" interest , where he grounds his focus in psychology and Buddhist philosophical doctrine. A very good, very interesting look at the development of Buddhism in America.

Tsomo, Karma Lekshe, ed. Buddhism Through American Women’s Eyes. Ithaca, 1995??

(for some reason, I have not yet found the publisher here)

Tuck, Donald R. Buddhist Churches of America: Jodo Shinshu Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1987.

Tweed, Thomas. The American Encounter with Buddhism (1844 - 1912): Victorian Culture and the Limits of Dissent. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1992.

A very useful book for understanding the first seven decades of Buddhist influence in America. Tweed offers an insightful account of the transportation of Buddhism to the West and its "taking root," if you will. What it offers is the foundational period of Buddhism, as well as the major players, from Steel Olcott to and Helena Blavatsky to Soyen Shaku. This work is not only important in that it offers this information, but it also brings to light many of the issues facing the early Asian immigrants and converts.

---. Retelling U.S. Religious History. Berkeley: Univ. of CA Press, 1997.

*While this book is not about American Buddhism specifically, it does speak of Buddhism in the general American religion context. Tweed’s book was just published this year, and I have yet to be able to read it. However, it does look promising for its insights into Buddhism’s place (its interactions, its present "status", etc.) in contemporary American society.

Tworkov, Helen. Zen in America : Five Teachers and the Search for an American Buddhism. San Francisco: North Point Press, 1989.

I must first offer an objection to the introduction of this book. I agree with Tworkov when she says that the "transformation into a truly American version of Zen will evolve with successive generations of practitioners, teachers, and students," (Tworkov 19) I disagree that an American Zen Buddhism does not exist. American Zen does exist because Zen is taught and learned in America. Whether it is "different" in some way from traditional Japanese Zen, remains to be seen...however, it does exist. Anyway, Tworkov’s book is a great introduction to Zen Buddhism in America. It is a profile of 5 teachers of Zen (including 2 I know of pretty well, Robert Aitken and Bernard Glassman) and chronicles how they came to be Zen roshis in America. Moreover, the book offers a wonderful introduction to the likes of D.T. Suzuki and the Beat generation of Kerouac and Synder.

Miscellaneous Works: These are the works that I spoke of earlier in class. They are titles I have heard of, but have not actually seen. Thus, for the most part, I lack bibliographic information beyond the title and author. They all look to be important books that I should find at some point.

Buddhist Churches of America. Buddhist Churches of America 75 year History 1899- 1974. 2 Volumes. Chicago: Nobart, 1974.

Kubose, Gyomay, American Buddhism: A New Direction??

Metcalf, Franz. "Why Americans Turn to Zen." Ph.D. Dissertation, 1998???

I have actually spoken to Franz on one occasion. He tells me that he has almost finished his dissertation,which will be titled something similar to that which is listed above. I am looking forward to reading it because it might give some insight into the "mind"of the American Buddhist...an interest of mine, although purely on a personal level.

Muranu, Kuran. What American Buddhist Pioneers Think. Tokyo: Pitaka, 1978.

Wallace, B. Allen. A Passage From Solitude. ???

Yeshe, Lama. Introduction to Tantra. ???