"Buddhism: A Complete Introduction" is a comprehensive guide to Buddhist thought and practice that draws upon the latest scholarly research. It examines the historical and cultural roots of Buddhism in India together with its emergence as a major religious force on the Indian sub-continent. Starting with an examination of the doctrinal roots of Buddhism, John Peacock then traces the development and extension of these teachings. After an initial examination of non-Mahayana thought in India, readers will find a thorough investigation of the rise of the Mahayana, examined in the light of the earlier non-Mahayana approaches in a comparative manner. This new introduction also covers the dissemination of the Buddha's teachings into different cultural contexts, and detailed examinations of the Tantric Buddhism of Tibet, Ch'an and Zen Buddhism, Pure Land and the complex philosophies which underpin these forms of practice.

Author Biography

Dr. John Peacock is a research fellow at the University of Bristol concentrating on Buddhist and Indian thought and is director of the Sharpham Centre for Buddhist Studies and Contemporary Enquiry in Devon, UK. He contributes a quarterly column to The Independent in their "Faith and Reason' section, has contributed to a number of BBC Radio programmes and is the Buddhist representative on the Central Religious Advisory Committee for the BBC and Ofcom.