The Spread of Buddhism

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The inspiration for this volume came from frequent discussions with

colleagues and students. Their stimulating remarks and questions

prompted us in gathering specialists who could offer answers to the

intriguing problems concerning ‘the spread of Buddhism’.

Our gratitude  rst goes out to them. Then we would also like to

thank the authors of the papers presented in this volume; they gener-

ously contributed to the project and considerably helped us through

the editorial work with their enthusiasm and enduring patience. We

are deeply grateful as well to the unnamed readers of individual con-

tributions and manuscript as a whole for their important criticism and

valuable suggestions.

Finally, we are deeply indepted to Andrew Glass and Silke Geffcken.

Andrew read through the whole manuscript very carefully and made

extensive comments on how to improve the clarity of the English

text. Silke spent long hours in editing all papers. We owe her special

thanks. It goes without saying that for all remaining errors we take full

responsibility ourselves.

Ann Heirman and Stephan Peter Bumbacher

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my colleague and friend Pol

Vanden Broucke, who in the course of this project sadly passed away.

His generous support and friendship shaped my life.

Ann Heirman

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