Book excerpt: Buddhism has been catching the attention and interest of a lot of people lately. In a world where everything goes fast and is constantly evolving, this ancient philosophy can help to slow down and live a more present and fulfilling life. However, there is a problem: buddhism seems extremely complicated from the outside. Those who have never studied it think that it is impossible for the average joe to make his way through all the rules and laws of this philosophy. Truth be told, buddhism is not as complicated as contemporary gurus pretend it to be. As you go through this introduction, you will be able to look into the most relevant topics about buddhism: Where did buddhism start? Who is the buddha? Why is the pratice fundamental in buddhism? Why did the buddha find a need for this practice? What are the most common buddhist traditions? What is the difference between theravada, mahayana, and vajrayana buddhism? How is buddhism expressed across the globe? Buddhism puts light onto inequality and injustice. It gives a purpose to life, while providing a moral code and spiritual guidance to inner peace, joy and happiness. This book is aimed at people wanting to discover and learn about buddhism. It explores the basic principles and tenets of buddhism, buddhist teachings and buddhist rituals, as well as ways to incorporate buddhism into the everyday life.