| rowing interest in Buddhism and the progress of | | | | There are evidences to this effect already. Most |
| Buddhist studies in the West have greatly influenced | | | | students of Japanese Buddhism, for instance, contend |
| the Buddhist revival in Asian Buddhist countries. As | | | | that the interest in Zen Buddhism in America stimulated |
| stated above, when Asia entered the modern period, | | | | by the English writings of D.T. Suzuki has been partially |
| Buddhism had stagnated in a state of habits and | | | | responsible for a renewed in-terest in Zen in Japan. |
| become a popular religion burdened with ceremonials | | | | And, as far as politics is concerned, the following |
| and superstition. Then, in the face of Western | | | | words of obser-vation on Asian Buddhist situations |
| civilization, it lost ground. But, with the rise in the interest | | | | deserve much attention. “Buddhism, inherently |
| among Western people, Asian Buddhists turned to | | | | Asian, has provided a mirror in which the Asian can |
| revalue their traditional heritage. Asian interest in | | | | perceive his uniqueness and worth; in Buddhism he |
| Buddhism, especially its intellectual aspect and | | | | retains a tradition of individual integrity and humanist |
| meditation, then came to develop, following Western | | | | values that owes nothing to the West.” |
| steps in many ways. What the following Western | | | | “Yet in both Japan and Vietnam, as earlier in |
| scholars say in this connection is worth appreciative | | | | Ceylon and Burma, the political response and |
| consideration. As Dr. Ernst Benz says in his book | | | | organization of Buddhism has come as a result of the |
| “Buddhism and Communism, Which Holds the | | | | search for national identity. The search continues |
| Future of Asia?”: In all Buddhist countries the | | | | throughout Asia, and the face of Buddha will change |
| revival has been greatly sparked by the work of | | | | with the challenge of modernization. Throughout history, |
| European scholars and educators who have come to | | | | images of the Buddha have reflected the real faces |
| Buddhism with the enthusiasm of discoverers, and | | | | of the people who created them. The new face of |
| have made it their own. | | | | the Buddha continues to change as it reflects the new |
| In “The Buddhist Religion” Mr. Richard H. | | | | face of Asia.” |
| Robinson writes: Some decades ago, meditation was | | | | “Yet Buddhism has shown its ability to adapt |
| commonly neglected by Buddhists who were trying to | | | | and develop. (Buddhist monks) are a powerful |
| be modern, because until recently Westerners have | | | | pressure group.” |
| scorned it, alleging that quietism and subjectivism are | | | | “If Buddhism does not adapt, it will become a |
| morbid and sap the will to act ......and now that | | | | cultural fossil. If it adapts too much, it becomes |
| psychiatry has sparked a cult of self-awareness in the | | | | adulterated and loses its essence and integrity.” |
| West, meditation is coming back into fashion in every | | | | Thus have been described the Buddhist conditions and |
| part of Buddhist Asia that Marxism does not hold in | | | | situations in the West today, some Western |
| thrall to 19th century European attitudes. | | | | estimations of Buddhism, and the relation between |
| Dr. Donald K. Swearer confirms this in his | | | | Western Buddhism and Buddhist Asia. These |
| “Buddhism in Transition”: Yet, if one | | | | conditions, situations and estimations can, however, be |
| could prognosticate the future, it might well be | | | | best described by Western scholars themselves or, in |
| predicted that a significant dimension of a Buddhist | | | | some cases, by international scholars. Hence the |
| renaissance will take shape not in Asia but in the West. | | | | following quotations. |