Author's Note


	From 1983 to 1985 when I was in Singapore engaged in the Buddhist studies 
project at the Curriculum Development Institute, I was invited by the Srilankaramaya 
Buddhist Temple and a number of Buddhist friends to deliver four series of lectures 
covering some of the major traditions of Buddhism.  The lectures were popular, and 
thanks to the efforts of Mr. Yeo Eng Chen and others, they were recorded, transcribed 
and printed for limited free distribution to students of the Dharma.  In the years since, the 
lectures which originally appeared in the form of four separate booklets have remained 
popular and have even been reprinted from time to time .  Consequently, it seemed to me 
to be desirable to collect the four series of lectures in one volume, and after appropriate 
revision to publish them for the general use of the public.
	In keeping with the original objectives of the lectures, this book is - as far as 
possible - non-technical.  It is intended for ordinary readers not having any special 
expertise in Buddhist studies or in Buddhist canonical languages.  Original language 
terms have therefore been kept to a minimum and foot notes have been avoided.  Names 
of texts cited are sometimes left untranslated, but this is because the English renderings of 
some titles are awkward and hardly make their subject matter more clear.  In brief I hope 
that this book will serve as the beginning of its readers' Buddhist education and not the 
end of it.  The book can supply a general introduction to the major traditions of 
Buddhism, but it does not pretend to be complete or definitive.  Neither can I honestly 
affirm that it is altogether free from errors, and therefore I apologize in advance for any 
that may remain in spite of my best efforts.
	A number of original language terms and personal names which have by now 
entered the English language such as 'Dharma', 'karma', 'Nirvana' and 'Shakyamuni' 
have been used throughout the book in their Sanskrit forms.  As for the rest, Pali original 
language terms, text titles and personal names   have been retained in parts I and IV 
which are largely based on Pali sources, while Sanskrit original language technical terms, 
text titles and personal names have been used in parts II and III which are largely based 
on Sanskrit and Tibetan sources.  Occasionally, this general rule has been ignored when 
the names of texts and persons referred to in a given context actually occur in another one 
of the canonical languages.  In as much as Pali and Sanskrit are in most cases quite 
similar, I trust the average reader will have no difficulty in coping with this arrangement.  
	I owe a great debt to a very large number of people for the realization of this 
book.  First and foremost, I would like to thank H.H. Sakya Trizin without whom my 
interest in Buddhism might well have remained superficial and merely intellectual.   Next 
I would like to thank Yeo Eng Chen and many other members of the Singapore Buddhist 
community without whose help and encouragement the lectures would never have been 
delivered and the original transcripts on which this book is based, never made.  Then, I 
would also like to thank a great many friends and students in Asia, Europe and America 
who encouraged me to think the lectures might be useful for an even wider readership.  
Finally, I want to thank all those who have been involved in the actual preparation of the 
present book.  They include, the members of the Chico Dharma study group, specially, Jo 
and Jim Murphy, Victoria Scott for her help with the manuscript, L. Jamspal for his help 
with the original language terms, my wife Krishna Ghosh for the many hours she spent 
checking the manuscript, and my son Siddhartha Della Santina for the cover design and 
formatting of the manuscript.
	In conclusion, I would like to add that by offering this book to the public, the 
Chico Dharma Study Group hopes to initiate a program whereby Buddhist Studies 
materials may be made available free of commercial considerations to students of 
Buddhism through a variety of media.   For the time being, the present book will be 
available not only in hard copy, but also over the internet.  In the future, the Chico 
Dharma Study Group plans to produce and make available important materials in the 
fields of Buddhist philosophy, practice and folk lore, including materials for children and 
young adults.  We welcome the help of anyone who would like to contribute in any way 
to the educational activities of the group and we invite you to contact us with your 
suggestions.
	
				Peter Della Santina
				 7 July, 1997 Chico, California, USA.      

Chico Dharma Study Group
26 Kirk Way, Chico, CA. 95928			      
U.S.A.			          

E-mail: dsantina@ecst.csuchico.edu
WWW: http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dsantina/