Table of Contents

Introduction 1


Part I: Embarking on a Journey: The Basics of Buddhism 7


Chapter 1: Entering the World of Buddhism: The Basics 9


Chapter 2: Understanding Your Mind: The Creator of All Experience 21


Part II: A Short History of Buddhism 35


Chapter 3: Surveying the Life and Teachings of the Historical Buddha 37


Chapter 4: The Development of Buddhism on the Indian Subcontinent 63


Chapter 5: Watching Developments Continue to the Present Day 85


Part III: Behaving Like a Buddhist 119


Chapter 6: Turning to Buddhism 121


Chapter 7: Meditation: A Central Practice of Buddhism 139


Chapter 8: A Day in the Life of a Buddhist Practitioner 161


Chapter 9: Walking in the Buddha's Footsteps 181


Part IV: Exploring the Buddhist Path 195


Chapter 10: What Is Enlightenment, Anyway? 197


Chapter 11: A Matter of Life and Death 217


Chapter 12: Minding the Concept of Karma 233


Chapter 13: Breaking Free of the Cycle of Dissatisfaction 249


Chapter 14: Fulfi lling Your Highest Potential 269


Chapter 15: Life Stories of Four Buddhist Masters 289


Part V: The Part of Tens 307


Chapter 16: Ten Common Misconceptions about Buddhism 309


Chapter 17: Ten Ways Buddhism Can Help You Deal with Life's Problems 317


Part VI: Appendixes 329


Appendix A: Explaining Buddhist Terms 331


Appendix B: Additional Buddhist Resources to Check Out 337


Index 347

About the Author

Jonathan Landaw is the former English Translation Editor, Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Stephan Bodian has studied and practices several schools of Buddhism. Gudrun Buhnemann , Professor, teaches the Sanskrit Language and its literature, along with courses on the religions of South Asia.