Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

1  The doctrinal position of the Buddha in context

2  Mainstream Buddhism: the basic thought of the Buddha

3  The nature and origins of Mahāyāna Buddhism

4  Some schools of mainstream Buddhist thought

5  Mahāyāna philosophy

6  The Buddha in Mahāyāna Buddhism

7  Mantranaya/vajrayāna – tantric Buddhism in India

Further reading and websites

Some exam and study questions

Sanskrit and Pāli pronunciation guide

Glossary of Buddhist terms

Map of some important sites in Buddhist India

Notes

Bibliography of works cited

Index