The oldest form of Buddhism extant today, Theravada is practiced widely in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Laos, with a growing following in the West. For newcomers to Buddhism as well as the initiated, the book presents an overview of the monks in saffron robes and their practices, from both a historical and contemporary viewpoint, plus extracts from the Pali Canon-texts believed to contain some of the Buddha's original teachings. These center on the awakening to true experience and freedom from suffering on the path to happiness. Also included are selections of monastic observances and liturgical writings, with a description of the contents and layout of a typical temple.

THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU
- to appreciate the significance of this particular school of Buddhism, famous for its focus on meditation and self-awakening
- to understand the history of Zen and the 'Ways of Zen'
- to discover how Zen is a way of life -- not a belief system
- to avoid faux pas in conversation, in travelling and in personal relationships

Zen (in Chinese, Ch'an) is the form of Buddhism which the great teacher Bodhidharma brought to China from India in the late fifth century. Today it is practised mainly in Japan and Korea, . Based upon the understanding that each of us has the potential for complete awakening, Zen is in fact a coalition of practical ways of stilling the mind in order to attain self-knowledge.
Because the realization of the true nature of reality, including one's own, is not an intellectual pursuit but an experienced truth, Zen teachers transmit the truth (dharma) from mind to mind or heart to heart without the use of words, using different techniques to break through the limitations of the logical mind.
This engaging book explains the essence of Zen in simple terms.. It traces its development and looks at its unique methods of teaching, such as meditation, koans -- startling paradoxes that stop the intellect -- the use of texts, ceremonies, poetry, and the martial arts. It describes life in monasteries and in the everyday world. Because Zen is rooted in Reality, its practitioners often experience a delightful sense of wonder in the commonplace. This democratic and liberating philosophy does not require us to give up our own traditions, but rather helps us to deepen our understanding of them, and continues to inspire growing numbers of followers in the West.

ACCESS THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
"Simple Guides: Religion" is a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world's major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths.
Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, "Simple Guides" aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect
and understanding.

Ajahn Sumedho urges us to trust in awareness and find out for ourselves what it is to experience genuine liberation from mental anguish and suffering, just as the Buddha himself did two and a half thousand years ago. Buddhism is not about becoming the model of humanity or escaping the natural consequences of our past deeds, but of putting aside all pretence and all ideas in order to simply be where we are. The author therefore encourages us not to take our lives personally, but to look at the reality of this moment free from beliefs, views and opinions. He refers frequently to his own experiences, his own journey along the path, and this he does humorously, guilelessly and sometimes with brutal honesty. Ajahn Sumedho, an American Buddhist monk, practised for ten years in Thailand with the well known monk, Ajahn Chah. He has since spent over thirty years in England and is the founder of the Cittaviveka Forest Monastery in West Sussex and the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hertfordshire. His many books include The Mind and the Way, Teachings of a Buddhist Monk, and The Sound of Silence.

Understanding Karma and Rebirth A Buddhist Perspective Rebirth and reincarnation are generally accepted realities in the East and have been since ancient times. What the next life will be is usually the question rather than whether it will be. In the West, on the other hand, we have our own religious and secular beliefs which usually do not include living another life, or at least not in this world or in this way. A common idea amongst Westerners is that annihilation is an unavoidable fact: 'When you're dead you're dead ' But unless one wakes up to the truth of it - East or West - one is caught in cultural conditioning and personal beliefs. Buddhism is about becoming aware of what life actually is rather than being blinded by beliefs and conditioning. The Buddha saw life as a changing procession of conditions, events, and circumstances, one thing leading to another without beginning or end, timeless and limitless. And he recognised that the part of ourselves which is aware, which sees and knows, is never born and never dies. He spoke of a direct 'seeing' into the nature of existence beyond words, beyond the intellect. Understanding the cause and effect process - the nature of karma and rebirth - and what lies behind it is the underlying message of this book. Diana St Ruth points out that Buddhism is a personal journey of discovery which involves seeing through one's own delusions. She leads us by degrees to a place of awareness, clarity of mind, and understanding.

A "primer" in the method and practice of Buddhist meditation, this book derivers exactly what it promises -- an imminently practical meditation guide. Diana St. Ruth doesn't altogether ignore the theories behind the method, but neither does she dwell upon them. The book is intended for people who wish to experience the richness of meditation without getting caught up in too much intellectualizing. It is an excellent starting point for those who would like an overview of Buddhist Meditation.