The Proper Study of Buddhism

This book is a rare critique of the Buddhist Tradition. Patrick Foster, a former Buddhist himself, brings to this exploration the tools of professional Religious Studies and Philosophy. Its examination of early Buddhism and later Mahayana are an in-depth study of one of civilization's oldest, largest, and most complex religious traditions. There are four informative appendices on semantics, logic, meditation, and self. Whether you are a practicing Buddhist, a scholar, or someone interested in how religion fits into the modern world, this book will make you think.

Patrick M. Foster received his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Southern California, and his PhD in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He taught high school English and Social Studies at the (Krishnamurti) Oak Grove School in Ojai, California. has taught Religious Studies at UCSB and Santa Barbara City College, and now directs the Construction Academy at SBCC. In his youth he practiced Buddhism in Sri Lanka.