The book of the famous Buddhist Edward Conze (1904-1979) touches on the main issues related to the Buddhist tradition. The author introduces readers to the origin, formation and development (including outside India) of the first world religion, discusses the philosophical problems raised and solved by it, reveals the foundations of all important areas of Buddhism, pays attention to the formation of a monastic community and the question of the perception of Buddhism by the laity, describes Buddhist spiritual practices, etc.