An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices

The book is structured as a systematic guide to Buddhism across doctrine, history, and lived practice. It opens with an Introduction explaining Buddhism as a tradition centered on the Buddha, the Dhamma/Dharma, the Saṅgha, awakening, and the historical diversity of Southern, Eastern, and Northern Buddhism. Chapter 1, “The Buddha and His Indian Context,” presents the background of Brahmanism and the śramaṇa movements, the life of the Buddha, his role, and the style of his teaching. Chapter 2, “Early Buddhist Teachings: Rebirth and Karma,” explains karma, rebirth, cosmology, and Buddhist belief in moral causality. Chapter 3, “Early Buddhist Teachings: The Four Holy Truths,” discusses suffering, the origin of suffering, nibbāna, and the path. Chapter 4, “Early Developments in Buddhism,” studies the early Saṅgha, Aśoka, early devotion, symbolism, Abhidhamma, early schools, and the rise of Mahāyāna. Chapter 5, “Mahāyāna Philosophy,” introduces Prajñāpāramitā, Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, tathāgatagarbha thought, and the Avataṃsaka/Hua-yen tradition. Chapter 6, “Mahāyāna Holy Beings,” explains the Bodhisattva path, Mahāyāna Buddhology, the Mahāyāna pantheon, and tantric perspectives. Chapter 7, “The Later History and Spread of Buddhism,” surveys India, Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Northern Buddhist lands. Chapters 8–11 examine Buddhist practice through devotion, ethics, the Saṅgha, meditation, calm, insight, Pure Land, Tantra, and Zen. Chapter 12 studies modern Buddhism in Asia, including communist Asia, continuing traditions, reform, and revival, while Chapter 13, “Buddhism Beyond Asia,” discusses scholarship, literature, philosophy, Theosophy, migration, travel, Buddhist missions, and organizations in the West.