A beginner’s path
Learn a little.
Bring it into your life.
Ten short introductions to Buddhist teaching and practice. Read in order, or choose the question that matters to you today.
Original introductory summaries with source links. The early Buddhist foundations lead into resources across traditions. No account, payment or prior knowledge required.
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A personal reading aid, not a test of spiritual progress. Nothing is sent to us.
01A place to beginMeet the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.02Understanding sufferingAn introduction to the Four Noble Truths.03A path for everyday lifeWisdom, ethical conduct and cultivation of the mind.04Care in the choices we makeThe Five Precepts as a training in non-harming.05One mindful minuteA gentle introduction to attention.06Widening the circle of careAn introduction to mettā, or loving-kindness.07Intention mattersUnderstanding kamma without blame or fatalism.08Putting compassion into actionGiving time, attention and practical help.09Many traditions, thoughtful explorationUnderstanding the labels in this directory.10Your first Buddhist community visitA few practical steps to feel more prepared.
Keep going with teachers and communities.
Our introductions are a beginning. Explore the source texts and learn with a suitable teacher.
Words you may meet
A small Dhamma glossary.
- Dhamma / Dharma
- Pāli and Sanskrit forms of a word used for the Buddha’s teaching, the path and other meanings according to context.
- Dukkha
- Suffering, stress or unsatisfactoriness; more than physical pain alone.
- Dāna
- Giving or generosity.
- Sīla / Śīla
- Ethical conduct and training.
- Mettā / Maitrī
- Loving-kindness or goodwill.
- Bhāvanā
- Cultivation or development, often used for meditative practice.
- Sutta / Sūtra
- A discourse or teaching text. Collections and interpretation differ across Buddhist traditions.
- Nibbāna / Nirvāṇa
- Liberation; the ending of greed, hatred and delusion.