This volume offers a lively and up-to-date survey of the current state of Buddhist Studies for students and scholars alike. It explores regional varieties of Buddhism and core topics such as Buddha nature, heaven, ritual, pilgrimage and other aspects important to an understanding of Buddhism. The section on society includes chapters on death, sex and violence. The final part covers major figures in Buddhism and their effect on the tradition, from the Buddha himself to Asoka, Dogen, Milarepa and many others. The Buddhist Worldhighlights distinctive aspects of Buddhist belief and practice, and also reflects the diversity of the tradition.