This book is a dizzying attempt to comprehend the ancient heritage of Buddhism from the point of view of a modern person of Western culture: what Buddhism can give to ordinary people, how to embody Buddhist principles in their lives, as taught by the real Buddha. Stephen Bacelor went through a 37-year journey of understanding Buddhism - from a monk who studied the theory and practice of Buddhism with the best Tibetan teachers, to a lay writer and teacher leading meditation groups.