Rent Wisdom in Exile: Buddhism and Modern Times

Synopsis

Buddhism speaks in an intelligent and compelling way to the emptiness at the heart of Western culture. And yet, despite the emigration of Buddhist teachers to the West, despite translations of its classical texts, and despite many books on its core teachings, Buddhism remains confined to the periphery of Western culture, in small, suburban 'dharma centers' and niche cultural spaces.

Why is it that Buddhism has not yet entered the mainstream of Western culture? In exploring this question, Jampa Thaye surveys the conditions under which Buddhism has arrived in the contemporary West, providing a fascinating and original insight into Buddhism's encounter with Western culture and the Western mind.

"It starts with loss. Our culture seems to be one that is haunted by it. It is as if we modern men and women have lost our sense of place in the world, our place in the very rhythms of birth and death. At this time when people measure their lives in terms of popularity and fame, it sometimes seems that nothing of value remains...." - Lama Jampa Thaye, Wisdom in Exile

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