Book excerpt: With a history spanning more than two-and-a-half millennia, and a geographic scatter that now encompasses the entire planet, Buddhism is one of humankind's most interesting religions, and often perceived to be one of its most mysterious. The A to Z of Buddhism provides a marvellous framework for an appreciative understanding of the religion including: 1) The historical evolution of Buddhism; 2) Religious institutions, doctrines, and missionary movements; 3) Important Buddhist scriptures in the Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan traditions; 4) The sacred and historic Buddhist sites; 5) The festivals, rites, and rituals that configure Buddhist religious practice; 6) The manifestation of Buddhism in biography, art, and mythology.