Explore with the Dalai Lama the common ground underlying the diverse traditions of Buddhism.

Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the convergences and the divergences between the two major strains of Buddhism--the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Especially deep consideration is given to the foundational Indian traditions and their respective treatment of such central tenets as:

• the four noble truths
• the practice of meditation
• the meaning of nirvana
• enlightenment

The authors seek harmony and greater understanding among Buddhist traditions worldwide, illuminating the rich benefits of respectful dialogue and the many ways that Buddhists of all stripes share a common heritage and common goals.

Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, The Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 352 pages, $19.95

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto, "My religion is kindness."

Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.

CONTENTS: Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions
Foreword by Bhante Gunaratana		xiii
Prologue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama		xvii
Preface by Venerable Thubten Chodron		xix
Abbreviations		xxiii
1.	Origin and Spread of the Buddha's Doctrine	1
2.	Refuge in the Three Jewels	17
3.	Sixteen Attributes of the Four Truths	39
4.	The Higher Training in Ethical Conduct	61
5.	The Higher Training in Concentration	83
6.	The Higher Training in Wisdom: Thirty-Seven Aids to Awakening	115
7.	Selflessness and Emptiness	135
8.	Dependent Arising	163
9.	Uniting Serenity and Insight	185
10.	Progressing on the Path	193
11.	The Four Immeasurables	207
12.	Bodhicitta	221
13.	Bodhisattva Training in the Perfections	243
14.	The Possibility of Awakening and Buddha Nature	269
15.	Tantra	281
16.	Conclusion	287
Notes		291
Index		293
About the Authors		319