He is an expert on Buddhist traditions, both Asian and North American. In April 2012 he published a book in which he examines Buddhism in the American South: Dixie Dharma: Regionalism and Identity at a Buddhist Temple in the American South, with University of North Carolina Press. Other recent publications are The Selected Writings of D.T. Suzuki: Comparative Religion and Religious Studies with University of California Press (2012), Mourning the Unborn Dead: A Buddhist Ritual Comes to America (Oxford University Press 2009) and Buddhism of the Heart: Reflections on Shin Buddhism and Inner Togetherness (Wisdom Publications 2009). He is the founder and chair of the Buddhism in the West Consultation at the American Academy of Religion.