The St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology is a nascent online, free-to-access encyclopaedia of the highest academic standards, treating the full discipline of theology with rigour and clarity.

The Encyclopaedia will ultimately incorporate intellectual content from all major religious traditions, with an emphasis on material being written by scholars for whom these traditions are alive.

The Buddhism section:
Buddhist thought and practice

Buddhism is not a religion confined to manuscripts and monuments, or limited to literature and archaeology, but is alive in the hearts and minds of Buddhists. The Buddhism section of the Encyclopaedia is a testament to both the Buddha and Buddhist teachers that have come after him. Its focus is on perspectives of believers, disciples, devotees, and practitioners, and it will explore the nature of human life and its ultimate possibilities from such vantages. We seek to generate a way of presenting Buddhism that more fully incorporates the views and understanding of those who practise it. The world of the disciple is – and has been historically – richer and more colourful than modern scholarship often acknowledges. Many entries will include exploration of how Buddhist understandings and practices can address modern problems or be informed by modern disciplines. Others may treat a concept or practice of widespread importance in Buddhism, or explore the contributions of individual teachers.

St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (encyclopaedia@st-andrews.ac.uk)