Introduction
The term 'Buddhism' refers to a vast and complex religious andphilosophical tradition with a history that stretches over some
2,500 years, taking in, at one time or another, the greater part of
Asia, from Afghanistan and parts of Persia in the west to Japan
in the east, from the great islands of Sumatra and Java in the
south to Mongolia and parts of southern Russia in the north. As
one writer reminds us, over half the world's population todaylives in areas w:here Buddhism has at one time or another been
the dominant religious influence.^1 Living Buddhism divides into
three broad traditions:^2 'I. The Theravada tradition of Sri Lanka and South-East Asia,
also sometimes referred to as 'southern' Buddhism. Its canon-
ical scriptures are preserved in Pali, an ancient Indian language
closely related to Sanskrit. The school exemplifies a certain con-
servatism. Relative to the other two traditions, it can be regarded
as generally closer in doctrine and practice to ancient Buddhism
as it existed in the early centuries BCE in India. Today it is the
religious tradition followed by a population of over IOO million
in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
2. The East Asian tradition of China, Korea, Japan, and Viet-
nam, also sometimes referred to as 'eastern' Buddhism. Its scrip-
tures are preserved in Chinese and its general outlook is that of
the Mahayana or 'Great Vehicle', a movement of ancient Indian
Buddhist thought and practice that from about the beginning of
the Christian era dubbed those who did not adopt its overall visionof Buddhism-represented today by the Theravada-followers
of the 'Lesser Vehicle' (hinayiina). East Asian Buddhism is
extremely diverse; it has coexisted with Confucianism, Taoism,