New Books in Buddhist Studies

Kai Shmushko, a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, dives into the fascinating world of lay Buddhism in contemporary China. She discusses how modern practitioners navigate societal changes and the evolving landscape of Buddhist practices outside monastic settings. The conversation explores the integration of commerce with spirituality, the rise of community spaces for Tibetan Buddhism, and the innovations brought about by technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. Shmushko argues for the concept of multiple liminalities to understand these dynamics.

An open access Asia Shorts edited volume from AAS. The spring of 2020 will remain etched in collective memory as a moment of profound upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and universities around the world to close their doors, reshaping education overnight. Teachers scrambled to reimagine their classrooms in online spaces, while students adjusted to a new, distanced reality. For educators of Asia-related topics, these shifts carried unique challenges. Already marginalized within English-speaking curricula, Asia’s place in classrooms faced further reductions amidst the chaos of pandemic adaptation. Recognizing this, our Asia Shorts volume, Teaching about Asia in a Time of Pandemic (AAS, 2025), was conceived as a timely response, offering guidance and inspiration during those uncertain times. Almost five years later, the world has moved forward, but the ripple effects of that historic spring are still felt. This supplemental set of open-access essays, edited by Kin Cheung (Associate Professor of East and South Asian Religions at Moravian University) builds upon the foundation of the original volume, reflecting on the enduring impacts of the pandemic on education, equity, and how we teach about Asia. One lasting consequence of the pandemic has been the rise in anti-Asian racism. Harassment and violence against Asians, fueled by pandemic-related scapegoating and xenophobic rhetoric, surged globally. In the United States, inflammatory phrases such as “China virus” and “kung flu” further stigmatized Asian communities, exacerbating a wave of hostility. Educators now face the challenge of addressing these injustices while fostering inclusive, empathetic learning environments. The essays in this collection delve into the pedagogical responses to anti-Asian racism, advocating for teaching frameworks that prioritize social justice and counteract harmful stereotypes and complement the important work of the scholars whose work appears in our recent Asia Shorts volume, Global Anti-Asian Racism, edited by Jennifer Ho. Another critical dimension explored in this volume is the necessity of representation. Asian Americans remain underrepresented in both the teaching workforce and teacher education programs, leading to a curriculum that often overlooks the rich cultural and linguistic assets of Asian students and their families. This gap underscores the importance of preparing teachers to adopt culturally responsive practices, ensuring that all students—especially Asian American learners—feel seen and valued in the classroom. These essays also challenge educators to move beyond surface-level engagement with Asia. A case in point is the life and legacy of Grace Lee Boggs, an Asian American activist whose story offers rich insights into the intersections of race, gender, and political activism. By teaching figures like Boggs through an antiracist, transnational lens, students can develop a deeper, more empathetic understanding of complex historical narratives. This approach not only enriches their knowledge of Asia and its diasporas but also equips them with critical tools to navigate and challenge systemic inequities in their own societies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

Catherine Hartmann, Assistant Professor of Asian Religions and author of Making the Invisible Real, studies how Tibetan pilgrims learn to perceive holy mountains as divine. She discusses transforming perception, debates over sacred sites like Kailash, the role of pilgrimage guides and diaries, and how visual practices, social life, and ritual forge extraordinary ways of seeing.

Miguel Farias, an experimental psychologist who studies religion, meditation, and cognition, discusses meditation’s potential harms as well as its benefits. He explores who is vulnerable to adverse reactions, how cultural frameworks shape altered states, and the need to combine historical, clinical, and contemplative approaches. The conversation probes retreat risks, tradition vs. secular mindfulness, and multiphasic views of consciousness.

Peter D. Hershock, a professor at the East-West Center in Honolulu, dives into the intricate relationship between consciousness and Buddhist teachings. He explores consciousness as a relational phenomenon, influenced by environment, culture, and our ethical choices. The discussion covers the complexities of machine consciousness and the ethical challenges posed by AI. Hershock emphasizes the significance of altered states and their implications for human experiences while advocating for intentional engagement with consciousness in the face of advancing technology.

Mick Brown’s The Nirvana Express: How the Search for Enlightenment Went West (Oxford UP, 2023) is a riveting account about the West's engagement with Eastern spirituality across a century. It traces the life of multiple characters that intersected across time and space to create a network of interlinking stories about saints, salesmen and scoundrels all involved in spirituality.From Edwin Arnold, whose epic poem about the life of the Buddha became a best-seller in Victorian Britain, to the occultist and magician Aleister Crowley; and from spiritual teachers Jiddu Krishnamurti, Meher Baba and Ramana Maharshi to the controversial guru Rajneesh, The Nirvana Express is an exhilarating, sometimes troubling journey through the West's search for enlightenment.Archit Nanda is PhD scholar in Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

Peter D. Hershock, Director of the Asian Studies Development Program, dives into how Buddhism can guide us through the complexities of intelligent technology. He discusses the ethical implications of AI and its impact on human consciousness, cautioning against the outsourcing of our cognitive functions. Hershock highlights the need for a diversified ethical framework, merging Buddhist teachings with Western philosophies to foster genuine human connections. His insights reveal the potential of ancient wisdom to shape a more equitable relationship with technology.

Justin McDaniel, Khan Endowed Chair of the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania and a scholar of Theravada Buddhist literature, dives into the intriguing and often unsettling aspects of Thai Buddhism. He discusses meditation practices involving decomposing bodies and the beliefs surrounding fetus spirits and corpse oil. The conversation touches on his journey from Catholicism to monastic life, exploring the complexity of rituals related to death and transformation in Thai culture, and the ethical dilemmas posed by practices like Kumantong.

Roger R. Jackson, a Professor Emeritus at Carleton College and author of "Saraha: Poet of Blissful Awareness," discusses the enigmatic tenth-century yogin Saraha. He unpacks Saraha’s mystic songs, highlighting their enlightening yet confounding nature. Jackson explores Saraha's influence on the Mahamudra tradition and critiques societal norms through fascinating narratives, including the radish girl story. He also addresses translation challenges and the significance of Saraha's work in South Asian literature, revealing his profound legacy in Tibetan Buddhism and beyond.

Rewriting Buddhism: Pali Literature and Monastic Reform in Sri Lanka, 1157–1270 (UCL Press, 2020) is the first intellectual history of premodern Sri Lanka’s most culturally productive period. This era of reform (1157–1270) shaped the nature of Theravada Buddhism both in Sri Lanka and also Southeast Asia and even today continues to define monastic intellectual life in the region.Alastair Gornall argues that the long century’s literary productivity was not born of political stability, as is often thought, but rather of the social, economic and political chaos brought about by invasions and civil wars. Faced with unprecedented uncertainty, the monastic community sought greater political autonomy, styled itself as royal court, and undertook a series of reforms, most notably, a purification and unification in 1165 during the reign of Parakramabahu I. He describes how central to the process of reform was the production of new forms of Pali literature, which helped create a new conceptual and social coherence within the reformed community; one that served to preserve and protect their religious tradition while also expanding its reach among the more fragmented and localized elites of the period.Rewriting Buddhism is available for free open-access download at uclpress.com/buddhism.Bruno M. Shirley is a PhD candidate at Cornell University, working on Buddhism, kingship and gender in medieval Sri Lankan texts and landscapes. He is on Twitter at @brunomshirley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies