Theories of the Self Race and Essentialization in Buddhism

<p>This book analyzes Buddhist discussions of the Aryan myth and scientific racism and the ways in which this conversation reshaped Buddhism in the United States and globally. </p><p>The book traces the development of notions of Aryanism in Buddhism through Buddhist publications from 1899-1957 focusing on this so-called yellow peril or historical racist views in the United States of an Asian other. During this time period in America the Aryan myth was considered to be scientific fact and Buddhists were able to capitalize on this idea throughout a global publishing network of books magazines and academic work which helped to transform the presentation of Buddhism into the Aryan religion. Following narratives regarding colonialism and the development of the Aryan myth Buddhists challenged these dominant tropes: they combined emic discussions about the Aryan myth and comparisons of Buddhism and science in order to disprove colonial tropes of Western dominance and suggest that Buddhism represented a superior tradition in world historical development. The author argues that this presentation of a Buddhist tradition of superiority helped to create space for Buddhism within the American religious landscape. </p><p>The book will be of interest to academics working on Buddhism race and religion and American religious history.</p>