Buddhism in Japan movement to eradicate Buddhism and bring Shinto to ascendancy arose throughout the country due to the strong connections of Buddhism to the Shōguns. During the Meiji period (1868–1912), after a coup in 1868, Japan abandoned its feudal system and opened up to Western modernism. Shinto became the state religion. Within the Buddhist establishment the Western world was seen as a threat as well as a challenge to stand up to. Buddhist institutions had a simple choice: adapt or perish. Rinzai and Soto Zen chose to adapt, trying to modernize Zen in accord with Western insights, while simultaneously maintaining a Japanese
White Collar Zen White Collar Zen White Collar Zen is a project by Steven Heine, who is primarily known for his research on medieval Japanese religion and society. The project deals with the principles of Zen Buddhism in relation to the contemporary workplace and professional leadership issues. "White Collar Zen" demonstrates how to incorporate Zen principles into daily work life in order to achieve professional success. In addition to the book – "White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Goal" (Oxford University Press, 2005) – White Collar Zen is a multi-faceted project that includes a unique course on