Brings to life the age-old religious tradition of Theravada (literally, "view of the elders”) Buddhism as it is found in ancient texts and understood and practiced today in South and Southeast Asia. Following a brief introduction to the life of the historical Buddha and the beginning of his mission, the book examines the Triple Gem (the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of monastic followers) and the basic teachings of the Buddha in the earliest available Pali sources.

Asanga Tilakaratne is professor of Pali and Buddhist studies at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.