Sufism and Zen in the West: The Transformation of Modern Religious Life and Practice (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780755657087)

Historically and culturally, Sufism and Zen may not seem to have anything in common. However, in the West, their spiritual messages are often perceived as strikingly similar. In this book, scholars analyse the ways in which Sufism and Zen were introduced to and developed in the West. The collection shows that the popularity of these religions arose not because of the substantive shared elements within the two traditions, but because their promoters in the West employed similar strategies to respond to the interests of a modern, Western audience. The first book to make a close comparison of Sufism and Zen, this study is an important contribution to understanding Western religious life and processes of 'easternisation'. It sheds new light on how Sufism and Zen came to represent a spirituality that is both countercultural and in touch with modern sensitivities.

Author: Saeko Yazaki
ISBN-10: 075565708X
ISBN-13: 9780755657087
Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company
Language: English
Published: 08/20/2026
Pages: 264
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 1.00d