This work provides a clear, straightforward treatise on Buddhism in general and awareness in particular - the book is all about being awake and in touch with what is going on here and now. The author's observations and insights are plain, practical and down-to-earth and deal exclusively with the present, not with theory, speculation or belief in some far-off time or place. This book should be of interest to anyone wanting to discover (or rediscover) the essence of Buddhism in accessible language, free of all the trappings and religious ritual.

In this text, Steve Hagen suggests that in practicising meditation we go nowhere other than right here where we know stand, where we now sit, where we live and breathe. He shows that in meditation we return to where we already are - the shifting, changing, ever-present now.

What is Buddhism? Steve Hagen cuts through the many misconceptions surrounding Buddhism, and shows us its true purpose. Drawing on down-to-earth examples from everyday life, this guide penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings.

This is the clearest and most precise exposition of Buddhism I have ever read. If you're looking for enlightenment rather than just scholarly knowledge, you'd better read this. Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.