This accessible volume covers both the teachings of the Buddha and the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? What or who is the Buddha, and what are his teachings? How has Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, and how can contemporary dilemmas be faced from a Buddhist perspective? Words such as "karma" and "nirvana" have entered our vocabulary, but what do they really mean? Keown has taught Buddhism at an introductory level for many years, and in this book he provides a lively, challenging response to these frequently asked questions.

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, Damien Keown, Oxford University Press, Paperback pocket, 184 pages, $11.95

Damien Keown is Reader in Buddhism at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His books on Buddhism include Dictionary of Buddhism and Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. He is also Editor of The Journal of Buddhist Ethics and Coeditor of The Curzon Critical Studies in Buddhism series.

CONTENTS: Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction
	List of illustrations	xi
	List of maps	xiii
	Acknowledgements	xvii
	Note on Citations and Pronunciation	xix
1	Buddhism and Elephants	1
2	The Buddha	17
3	Karma and Rebirth	32
4	The Four Noble Truths	48
5	The Mahayana	61
6	The spread of Buddhism	76
7	Meditation	96
8	Ethics	112
9	Buddhism in the West	128
	Timeline	146
	Further reading	149
	Index	155