Don't lose your way on the path to enlightenment! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Budhism will keep you on track -- and show you easy ways to make Buddhism a part of your life. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

* A fascinating exploration of who the Buddha was and what he means today.
* An enlightening introduction to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
* Clear discussion of the major schoolls such as Vipassana, Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan Buddhism.
* Comprehensive coverage of the growth and development of Buddhism, East and West.

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You'll learn how to ...

* Practice and personalize the Precepts
* Discover the power of tranquility and insight meditation
* Find a teacher and a sangha
* Grasp the basics of Buddhist ecology
* Use the principles of deep listening and loving speech to improve your relationships
* Be mindful and compassionate toward yourself
* Appreciate key films in Buddhist cinema
* Determine the best destinations for Buddhist pilgrimages and retreats.

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GARY GACH has been a student of Buddhism for 40 years. he is a consultant to the Internation Buddhist Film Festival and the Unified Buddhist Church. For two years Gach was Arts and Religion editor for AsianWeek, and prior to that was a contributing editor to The San Francisco Review. His articvles have appeared in Chicken Soup for the American Soul, Shambhala Sun, New Asia Review, Whole Earth Review, etc. He is the editor of What Book!? ~ Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop (American Book Award).

An introduction to the teachings, concepts, schools, and practices of Buddhism explains the creation of the Buddhist universe, life of the Buddha, and enlightenment as a path to freedom from suffering.