Former monk and author of "Alone with Others" and "The Awakening of the West" Stephen Batchelor now offers a straightforward, solid introduction to Buddhism that demystifies the discipline and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. "Filled with compassion, lucidly written".--Oscar Hijuelos.
A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike

In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do--and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.