What is an unofficial Buddhist? Someone whose monastery is their living room! This book explores Buddhist-inspired teaching and practice for today's secular world - but outside the monastic traditions of Buddhism.

The Unofficial Buddhist seeks to find a middle way between ancient and modern worldviews, religious and secular approaches, and Asian and western cultural attitudes. Drawing on traditional Theravada and modern Zen sources, it suggests practical ways of engaging with the Buddha's ancient path of morality and meditation, leading towards the wisdom of awakening.

Western Buddhists often practise with friends or alone. Perhaps they have no local Buddhist centre, or haven't found those nearby appealing - or they're wary of organized religion in general. These 'unofficial Buddhists' have been called Buddhism's 'new pioneers', exploring the inner territory of how to practise the Buddha's teaching in the modern world. In both Europe and North America, they're probably more numerous than any of the traditional groups.

So if you have been practising Buddhism without finding a local centre where you feel comfortable - or if you are outside Buddhism, but looking in with interest - you are probably an unofficial Buddhist yourself. If so, this book is for you.

The Unofficial Buddhist: A Path Made by Walking, Robert Bluck, Equinox Publishing, Paperback, 120 pages, $22.95

Dr Robert Bluck is the Buddhist Chaplain at Durham University. A Zen practitioner and meditation teacher, he has worked in higher education for many years as a tutor-librarian and lecturer. While teaching world religions for the Open University, his doctoral research was published as British Buddhism: Teachings, Practice and Development. He has contributed chapters, articles and conference papers on Buddhism, as well as workshops and lectures to secular, Christian and interfaith groups. He and his wife live in Northumberland.