Buddhism For Dummies

by Landaw, Jonathan; Bodian, Stephan; Bü; hnemann, Gudrun

• ISBN13: 9781118023792
• ISBN10: 111802379X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-08-02
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Your hands-on guide to this widely practiced and ancient religion Buddhism, one of the worlds most widely practiced religions, is a fascinating yet complex eastern religion that is rapidly spreading throughout western civilization. What does it mean to be a Buddhist? What are the fundamental beliefs and history behind this religion? Buddhism For Dummies explores these questions and more in this updated guide to Buddhist culture. Youll gain an understanding of the origins of this ancient practice and how theyre currently applied to everyday life. Whether youre a searcher of truth, a student of religions, or just curious about what makes Buddhism such a widely practiced religion, this guide is for you. In plain English, it defines the important terms, explains the key concepts, and explores in-depth a wide range of fascinating topics. New and expanded coverage on all the schools of Buddhism, including Theravada, Tibetan, and Mahayana The continuing relevance of the Dalai Lama Updated coverage on daily observances, celebrations, styles, practices, meditation, and more Continuing the Dummies tradition of making the worlds religions engaging and accessible to everyone, Buddhism For Dummies is your essential guide to this fascinating religion.

Author Biography

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 Bühnemann, Professor, teaches the Sanskrit Language and its literature, along with courses on the religions of South Asia.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

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

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

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

Part II: A Short History of Buddhism.

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

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

Chapter 5: Watching Developments Continue to the Present Day.

Part III: Behaving Like a Buddhist.

Chapter 6: Turning to Buddhism.

Chapter 7: Meditation: A Central Practice of Buddhism.

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

Chapter 9: Walking in the Buddha's Footsteps.

Part IV: Exploring the Buddhist Path.

Chapter 10: What Is Enlightenment, Anyway?

Chapter 11: A Matter of Life and Death.

Chapter 12: Minding the Concept of Karma.

Chapter 13: Breaking Free of the Cycle of Dissatisfaction.

Chapter 14: Fulfi lling Your Highest Potential.

Chapter 15: Life Stories of Four Buddhist Masters.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 16: Ten Common Misconceptions about Buddhism.

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

Part VI: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Explaining Buddhist Terms.

Appendix B: Additional Buddhist Resources to Check Out.

Index.