Rachelle Scott studies the history of Theravada Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on contemporary Buddhism in Thailand.  Her first book, Nirvana for Sale?: Buddhism, Wealth, and the Dhammakāya Temple,  examined contemporary debates over monastic and lay wealth in Thailand. Her current research focuses on stories of powerful female ascetics and spirits, the impact of new media on religious authority and community, and the role of the Buddhist sangha in global Buddhism.