This book by the writer and philosopher Alexander Piatigorsky should be seen only as an introduction to the study of the philosophy of Buddhism. It does not attempt to deal with Buddhism as a religion, or with the Buddhist view of the world, or Buddhist art and culture. Neither should it be seen as an introduction to the history of Buddhist philosophy. Through canonical and noncanonical texts, Piatigorsky offers several cross-sections of philosophy, each a complete image of a particular state of Buddhist philosophical thought.

Together, they present a synchronized picture of the general state of Buddhist philosophy, as seen by the contemporary philosophical thinker.