Buddhism in the Modern World

"Buddhism in the Modern World" by Kenneth J. Saunders is a study from the early 1900s that looks at Buddhism as a religion that is alive and changing. The book discusses how Buddhism grew in different places, especially in Southern and Eastern Asia, and what it means today. It also considers how Christianity might fit into these areas. The author wants to help missionaries and others understand how Buddhism affects and matters to the world now. The text starts by thinking about the history of Buddhism and how it has changed over time. Saunders shows how active Buddhism is, especially in Southern Asia, by describing what it is like in places such as Burma and Ceylon. He talks about how people show their faith in public, from what is taught in Buddhist schools to what regular people do, showing how old beliefs and new changes in society go together. Through detailed stories of worship and learning, the book paints a picture of how Buddhism fits into society and culture, as well as the problems it faces as things become more modern and Western ideas spread.