This talk continues a series of reviews of the development of Buddhism from the time of the Buddha forward, as Buddhism was influenced by various historical eras.  The focus for this review builds on the talk on February 3, 2021 that explored how Western colonialism, particularly Christian missionary activity, initiated a revitalization of the various Buddhist traditions around Asia.  The presentation in this talk describes how, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries various teachers began to create more meditative practices that could influence the general population, and, during and after WWII, Americans in Asia began to be interested in and trained by Buddhist monks and lay teachers; these American teachers brought contemporary vipassana practices to the U.S., largely avoiding the traditional rites and rituals of Asian traditions.  The talk was followed by a period for questions and general discussion.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  How Buddhism Encountered the West

Next week’s talk will review the various concepts and meditation practices Peter has been trained in.