In 1983, a tiny group of people in Cardiff and a married couple in Aberporth West Wales were the only Welsh members of Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese movement based on the beliefs and teachings of the 13th century Buddhist, Nichiren Daishonin. Today, there are hundreds of members in Wales and the Borders. This book examines the history of the movement in these two areas, and draws on original research gleaned from the members themselves. The research elicits facets of their faith, practices, and study, as well as their testimonies to the success of such beliefs and practices in their daily lives. The book combines the twin goals of academic analysis of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin in general with the warmth of its expression in the lives of its adherents in Wales and the Borders.

Informed by almost two decades of dialogue, research and teaching, this book refutes the mistaken premise that Zen Buddhism is more suited to people who lived years ago. Beginning with the annotated "ox path" pictures, the gradual development of the wayward mind away from aimless wandering and towards Buddhahood is depicted and examined. Ever mindful of the legacy of India, the life and teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are revisited as are the scriptures themselves. At every point, this book presents Zen Buddhism, not as some esoteric mystery cult, accessible only to the eastern mind, but in an animated, meaningful manner that demonstrates its purpose and function in today's world.

Jeaneane Fowler provides a text and detailed commentary on this important Hindu scripture, which is a dialogue between Arjuna the man and Krishna the God. Major Hindu concepts are examined in depth, and the background to the Gita is presented in a comprehensive introduction. Yoga is the key feature of the Gita but it has its own interpretation of what that yoga should be: thus, yoga features not only in each of the pathways of knowledge, desireless action and devotion, but in the way in which the divine is understood. The chapters of the Bhagavad Gita therefore describe Arjunas despondency followed by The Yoga of Sankhya, Action, Knowledge, Renunciation, Meditation, Knowledge and Realization, the Imperishable Brahman, Royal Knowledge and Royal Mystery, Manifestation, the Vision of the Universal Form, Devotion, the Differentiation of the Kshetra and Kshetrajna, the Differentiation of the Three Gunas, the Supreme Purusha, the Differentiation of the Divine and the Demonic, the Differentiation of the Threefold Shraddha and, finally, The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation. The book also contains detailed notes to the Gita chapters, a Further Reading section, a combined Glossary and Index of Sanskrit Terms, and an Index of English words. The cover of the book is replete with symbolism. Krishna is always represented as blue in colour, hence the colour of the hands in the cover design. The chariot of Krishna and Arjuna is to be seen in the motif at the base, while the triple motif symbolizes the triple paths of the Gita action without desire for results, knowledge and devotion. There are also three strands that make up all phenomena light and radiance, energy, and inertia, as well as three aspects of the divine in the Gita the totally transcendent Absolute, the manifest deity that is also the essence of all things, and the personal God to whom devotion can be given. The main image of Krishna is superimposed on the roots of the ashvattha tree that features in chapter 15: its branches reach down into the earth and its roots ascend upwards and it represents phenomenal existence.

This introduction to Buddhism begins by asking, "What is Buddhism?", and recognizes an immense diversity and richness woven into its many strands. Assuming no previous knowledge, the book introduces the reader to the life and teachings of the Buddha, and to the major beliefs and practices which are encompassed in the Theravada, the sole surviving school from early Buddhism. It also examines the schools of the Mahayana, which have blossomed from early beginnings, and today find expression in rich and multifarious forms. Contents include:
-- Introduction: What is Buddhism? The world of the Buddha: the Indian background; the Indian mind and its concerns.
-- The life of the Buddha: the early years; the four signs; enlightenment; death of the Buddha. The Sangha and the development of Buddhism; the Buddha's first sermon; the beginnings of the Sangh; the First Council 483 BCE; the Second Council 383 BCE; the emergence of the Mahayana; the Third Council; the decline of Buddhism in India and its development elsewhere.
-- The Buddha's teaching: the Buddha's unique methodology; the Four Noble Truths; the Noble Eightfold Path; the Pancha Sila; dependent origination; the three marks.
-- Theravada Buddhism: the nature of the Buddha; arahants; monks; scriptures; ceremonies; festivals.
-- Mahayana Buddhism: the nature of the Buddha; bodhisattvas; scriptures; ceremonies; festivals. Schools of the Mahayana: Pure Land, Zen, Tibetan, Nichiren, Tantra.
-- Puja in the temple/home; meditation.