When the Buddha was asked to sum up his teaching in a single word, he said, "Awareness." The Buddha taught how to see directly into the nature of experience. His observations and insights are plain, practical, and down-to-earth, and they deal exclusively with the present. Buddhism Plain and Simple offers a straightforward treatise on Buddhism in general and on awareness in particular. Steve Hagan presents the Buddha's uncluttered, original teachings in everyday, accessible language unencumbered by religious ritual. This book is about awareness. For people investigating Buddhist teachings and meditation for the first time, Buddhism Plain and Simple offers a clear look at the wisdom and guidance of the Buddha—an enlightened teacher who lived some 2,500 years ago—yet whose teachings remain as vital and penetrating today as ever. For every person with a desire to see deeply into the nature of existence, it is a call to mindfulness and awakening.