The number of people practising Buddhism in the West is growing fast, but the variety of its forms, and the unfamiliarity of its teachings can sometimes confuse the general enquirer or student.
This book aims to give a clear and informative introduction to Buddhism today, and to provide a solid basis for understanding the Buddhist path in its many forms. It examines the Buddha's teachings about life, and the many practices that have developed out of them over the last two and a half thousand years.
It includes:
- Buddhists and Buddhism
- the Buddha and his teachings
- the diversity of Buddhism
- Buddhist meditation and devotion
- Buddhist values
- customs, festivals and ceremonies
- Buddhism today, East and West
The book also includes suggestions for further reading, sources for information on Buddhism, and a glossary of Buddhist terms.