Introduction : The Buddhist point of view -- Buddhist historical developments -- Traditional Buddhist ways, schools, and paths -- The nature of Buddhist literature -- The three valued components of Buddhist -- The Buddha: Teacher and ideal : The Buddhist as teacher -- The venerated Buddhist -- The manifested Buddhist -- The Buddhist pantheon -- The followers of the Buddhist -- The dhamma/dharma: Buddhist principles : The basic problem of life and the four principles in Buddhism -- The first principle: The nature of existence -- The second principle: The nature of causation -- The third principle: The ultimate freedom in perfect wxistence -- The correlation of thought, conduct, and being in Buddhism -- The dhamma/dharma: Buddhist practices : The fourth principle: The Middle way and the eightfold path -- The threefold training -- The principles of progress toward enlightenment -- The stages of progress toward enlightnment -- Buddhist ceremonies and rituals -- The sangha: Buddhist monasticism : The organization of the monastic order: The sangha -- The regulations of the sangha: The vinaya -- Life in a Thai theravada monastery -- Life in a Japanese mahayann monastery -- Life in a tibetan vajrayann monastery -- The sangha: Buddhist society and the laity : Buddhist conceptions of change in society and the sangha -- Buddhist political thought and institutions -- Buddhist social thought and practices -- Buddhist lay groups and activities -- Buddhist expressions in the cultural arts Buddhist

1. Buddha and Buddhism