This ethnographic study of the cultural politics surrounding the current Buddhist revival in contemporary China centers on discourse and debates among lay Buddhist practitioners who gather in the outer courtyard of the Temple of Universal Rescue in Beijing. Profiles of real-life lay practitioners reveal how contemporary Chinese Buddhists attempt to resolve ideological conflicts between religion and communism, the individual and the state, and doctrinal teachings versus lived reality, as China transitions from a centrally planned economy to a market-based society. Black and white photos are included. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)