Buddhism The Basics

Buddhism: The Basics provides a thorough and accessible introduction to a fascinating religion. Examining the historical development of Buddhism and its presence today, this guide covers: principal traditions practices and beliefs ethical guidelines and philosophy religious texts community With helpful features including a detailed map of the Buddhist world, glossary of terms and tips for further study, this is an ideal text for students and interested readers wanting to familiarise themselves with the Buddhist faith. Cathy Cantwell is an academic researcher at the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford. She specialises in Tibetan Buddhism, and has worked on eleventh century manuscripts, an eighteenth century scriptural collection, and contemporary Buddhist ritual manuals and practice. She has taught widely in UK Higher Education and is joint author of Early Tibetan Documents on Phur pa from Dunhuang.

Originally used as a study guide, Basics of Buddhism explores the 2,500 year-old tradition that teaches us how to end pain and suffering for ourselves and others in this lifetime. Learn basic Buddhist teachings including the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. Explore the life of the Buddha and the three schools of Buddhism. Develop a personal meditation practice to make life calmer, cultivate compassion and increase your ability to concentrate. Topics covered include: * Mindfulness and Meditation * Life of the Buddha * Basic Buddhist Teachings * Three Schools of Buddhism * Varjayana and the Afflictive Emotions * Five Skandhas, Anatta and Enlightenment * Eight Worldly Concerns * Six Paramitas and the Five Hindrances * Karma, Death, Rebirth and Dependent Origination * Shunyata * Bodhichitta and Buddha Nature * Developing a Personal Practice

This book provides lucid explanations of such fundamental concepts as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Twelve-linked Chain of Dependent Origination, revealing the universal heart of Buddhist belief.

Discusses concepts common to all schools of Buddhism interpreted from the viewpoint of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

This easy-to-understand introduction to Buddhism is “written for people wanting to understand basic Buddhist principles and how to integrate them into their lives” (H.H. the Dalai Lama) This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions—beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching Buddhism make this an exceptionally complete and accessible introduction—as well as a manual for living a more peaceful, mindful, and satisfying Life. Buddhism for Beginners is an ideal first book on the subject for anyone, but it’s also a wonderful resource for seasoned students, since the question-and-answer format makes it easy to find just the topic you’re looking for, such as: • What is the goal of the Buddhist path? • What is karma? • If all phenomena are empty, does that mean nothing exists? • How can we deal with fear? • How do I establish a regular meditation practice? • What are the qualities I should look for in a teacher? • What is Buddha-nature? • Why can't we remember our past lives?

In Tibetan, the word for Buddhist means “insider”—someone who looks not to the world but to themselves for peace and happiness. The basic premise of Buddhism is that all suffering, however real it may seem, is the product of our own minds.Rebecca Novick’s concise history of Buddhism and her explanations of the Four Noble Truths, Wheel of Life, Karma, the path of the Bodhisattva, and the four schools help us understand Tibetan Buddhism as a religion or philosophy, and more important, as a way of experiencing the world.

Basic Buddhism Through Comics is a fun and novel look at the esoteric and occasionally difficult-to-grasp concepts behind Buddhism. This comic-style book Intended for adults as well as children and is an excellent guide for both those who have freshly entered the gate of Buddhism and those who have been practicing the teachings for a long time. Its 23 episodes offer not only easy-to-understand descriptions of Buddhist concepts but also the means to apply them in our daily lives.