When the Buddha was asked to sum up his teachings in a single word he said "awareness" — experiencing the whole of reality, seeing what is, and being entirely in the present. In this way, the mind is made free. In <I>Buddhism Plain and Simple</I>, Zen priest and longtime teacher Steve Hagen presents this heart of Buddhist teaching, pared down to its essence and explained in simple, everyday language. This best-selling beginner''s guide to Buddhism text has served international readers at all levels of study and practice since it was originally published over a decade ago. More than 300,000 copies in various formats have sold to date and is now available in a brand new, high-quality paperback edition. Praised by Robert M. Pirsig, author of <I>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</I>, as "the clearest and most precise exposition of Buddhism I have ever read. If you''re looking for enlightenment rather than just scholarly knowledge, you''d better read this." <I>Buddhism Plain a