""Praise for Buddhists""; ""Title Page""; ""Copyright""; ""Notes on Contributors""; ""Preface""; ""Note""; ""Acknowledgments""; ""Introduction""; ""The Eightfold Path and the Gradual Path""; ""Pragmatic and Transcendental Buddhism""; ""References""; ""Further Reading""; ""Notes""; ""Part I: Buddhists in the Earliest and Medieval Eras""; ""Chapter 1: The Female Householder Mallika""; ""Editor's Introduction""; ""Introduction: Mallika's Historical, Geographical, and Cultural Context""; ""Mallika's Biography""; ""Reflections on How This Individual's Life Relates to the Buddhist Community"";"Understanding Buddhism provides a series of case studies of Asian and modern Western Buddhists, spanning history, gender, and class, whose lives are representative of the ways in which Buddhists throughout time have embodied the tradition. Portrays the foundational principles of Buddhist belief through the lives of believers, illustrating how the religion is put into practice in everyday life. Takes as its foundation the inherent diversity within Buddhist society, rather than focusing on the spiritual and philosophical elite within Buddhism. Its compelling biographical genre reveals how individuals have negotiated the choices, tensions, and rewards of living in a Buddhist society. Case studies have been carefully chosen to cover a range of Asian and modern Western Buddhists. The text convey a full sample of possible Buddhist orientations in contemporary and historical contexts"--;"Understanding Buddhism redresses this imbalance by exploring a fascinating series of life histories of individuals whose lives are far more representative of the ways in which Buddhists throughout time have embodied the tradition"--