Professor Jonathan S. Walters

About the Author

Professor Jonathan S. Walters is a distinguished scholar of religious studies and Asian history, with a particular focus on the interplay between Buddhism and modernity. Holding a professorship at a leading university, he has dedicated his career to exploring how Buddhist traditions have evolved in response to contemporary societal shifts across Asia. His research draws on extensive fieldwork, archival analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches to illuminate the dynamic figures and movements that shape modern Buddhist identities. In his acclaimed work, Figures of Buddhist Modernity in Asia, Walters examines key thinkers, reformers, and institutions that have navigated the tensions between tradition and progress, offering profound insights into the religion's adaptability in the face of globalization, colonialism, and technological change. Beyond academia, he contributes to public discourse through lectures and essays, making complex historical narratives accessible to broader audiences.