Buddhism in Five Minutes

Buddhism in Five Minutes offers answers to over 70 questions that people curious about Buddhism might ask. Answered by specialists, the questions cover the Buddha, what the Buddha taught, Buddhist monasticism and the role of lay people, the historical development of Buddhism, Buddhist art, Buddhist ethics, Buddhist responses to other religions, and Buddhist thought on contemporary issues. 

The questions include: 

•Who is the fat Buddha figure? 

•Can we know what the historical Buddha taught? 

•What is nirvana? 

•Why do Buddhists meditate? 

•Does Buddhism support gender equality? 

•What is Zen Buddhism? 

•Are Buddhists pacifists? 

•What do Buddhists think about those who are LGBTQI? 

•Are alcohol and drugs ever acceptable to Buddhists? 

•Are human rights compatible with Buddhism? 

•How do Buddhists view artificial intelligence? 

Written in accessible, non-specialist language, each answer should take around five minutes to read. Taken together, the questions cover almost every aspect of Buddhist belief and practice in the contemporary world.

Sponsored by the UK Association for Buddhist Studies, this collection features an international selection of contributors, drawn from Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.