ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is an understatement to say that a project of this scope is based
directly or indirectly on the efforts of many, many people and that
acknowledgements cannot encompass them all. Nonetheless, I would like
first of all to acknowledge Albert Hoffstädt, Brill’s acquisitions editor,
who years ago at a meeting of the Association for Asian Studies raised
the idea for such a volume with James H. Sanford and myself. At Brill,
Patricia Radder has been ever helpful in answering our many queries
and in her patience with what must have appeared at times to be gla-
cial progress. Thanks to Stephen Teiser for his unfailing support.
Henrik Sørensen was brought in on the project early on and pro-
vided the first outline of the work. His enormous erudition is evident
throughout the volume. Richard K. Payne has been everything one
could wish for as a collaborator—precise, prompt, patient, organized,
and ever cheerful. His work gave me heart and kept me from abandon-
ing the project altogether. Special thanks are also due the Institute of
Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, where Richard serves as Dean.
The Buddhist Churches of America Fraternal Benefit Association
Legacy Fund provided the lion’s share of funds for copyediting and
indexing. The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North
Carolina Greensboro also made funds available for copyediting. I owe
special thanks to Timothy Johnston, Dean of Arts and Sciences, for
this assistance and for other forms of support.
I warmly thank the National Humanities Center where I spent the
academic year 2009–2010. Much of the work of writing my own essays
and of bringing together and editing this volume occured with their
support. I especially wish to thank Geoffrey Harpham, President and
Director of the Center, for his support, and the library staff, particu-
larly Eliza Robertson, Director; Jean Houston, circulation librarian,
who provided many useful books; and Josiah Drewrey who provided
endless assistance with interlibrary loan during my fellowship year.
The University of North Carolina Greensboro—especially the Col-
lege of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Religious Studies—
has been a solid source of support for the last several years. I give
special thanks to Derek Krueger, who as head of department, advo-
cated for this project, and to Patricia Bowden, who provided many
kinds of administrative support.