Based on detailed ethnographic research, this book explores the varied experiences of women who have converted to Buddhism in contemporary Britain and analyses the implications of their experiences for understanding the translation and transference of Buddhist practices temporally and geographically.

Caroline Starkey is Associate Professor of Religion and Society at the University of Leeds, UK.

1 Introduction, Context and Method; 2 Buddhism in Britain; 3 British Buddhist Women and Narratives of Conversion; 4 Deepening Commitment: The Path to Ordination; 5 Buddha Couture: Ordained Buddhist Women and Dress; 6 Loaded Words - Attitudes to Feminism and Gender Equality; 7 Pioneers and Volunteers: Women Building British Buddhism; 8 Conclusion