This Very Short Introduction offers readers a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? Words such as "karma" and "nirvana" have entered our vocabulary, but what do they mean? Damien Keown provides a lively, informative response to these frequently asked questions about Buddhism. As he sheds light into how Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, Keown also highlights how contemporary dilemmas can be faced from a Buddhist perspective.

In the second edition Keown provides new perspectives on Buddhist thought, including up-to-date material about the evolution of Buddhism throughout Asia, the material culture of Buddhism and its importance, new teachings on the ethics of war and peace, and changes to ethnicity, class, and gender.

作者

关大眠（Damien Keown）　佛教伦理学家，生物伦理学家。目前任教于伦敦大学历史系。1977年毕业于兰卡斯特大学，获文学士学位；1986年毕业于牛津大学东方学系，获哲学博士学位。著有《佛教伦理的本质》（1992）、《佛教与生物伦理学》（1995）、《佛学概论》（1996）、《当代佛教伦理》（2000）等。

序言作者

赖永海　哲学博士，南京大学教授、中华文化研究院院长、旭日佛学研究中心主任，国务院学位委员会哲学学科评议组成员、全国博士后管委会专家组成员、江苏宏德文化出版基金会理事长。研究专长：宗教学、佛学、中国哲学。《中国佛教通史》主编，先后出版了《中国佛性论》、《佛学与儒学》、《中国佛教文化论》、《宗教学概论》等学术著作十余部。