One of the main problems Westerners have in beginning to understand Buddhism is lack of knowledge of the Buddha himself, Siddhartha Gotama. Most people don't realize that the Buddha had been raised as royalty, that he came from modern-day Nepal, and not from China or Japan, and that he nerver claimed to be a god, only "awake". This re-telling of the Buddha's life from the founder of the second-biggest Buddhist organization in Japan (www.rk-world.org), is both accessible and complete. Why do the Buddha's teachings still inspire and enlighten 2500 years after his death? This book will help anyone--Buddhist or otherwise--appreciate the power of the Buddha's message, and the compassionate nature of his personality. A great book for introducing the Buddha to friends and family, too.