In the United States we are inundated with subtle references to Buddhism. Whether it is a bumper sticker that says, "My Karma Ran Over Your Dogma," or Hollywood stars talking about their Zen practices, we hear bits of Buddhist practice often taken out of context. This podcast is a conversation about Buddhism in a beginning discussion aimed at understanding the religion of over 500 million adherents.

Check out the book Buddha by Deepak Chopra. It is a work of historical fiction about the life of Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha. While not heavy on doctrine, it will help you understand the story.