Product Description: This title analyzes one of the most important ideas in Buddhist philosophy: the doctrine of "skillful means." It presents an analysis of a familiar subject, thus providing a way of understanding Buddhist thought. It argues that Buddhism is best understood as a philosophy of practice - or a "metapraxis" - and that terms such as "emptiness," "non-self," and "nirvana" refer less to metaphysical principles than to skillful teachings that help people cultivate compassion and mindfulness...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)