This classic masterpiece on the subject of comparative religion explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania. Emphasizing the inner rather than institutional dimensions of these religions, this survey devotes special attention to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. The unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and their hold on the human heart and imagination are conveyed with wisdom and respect.

Huston Smith is a world authority on the history of religion and the philosophy of comparative religions. He is a professor at the University of California-Berkeley and is the author of many religious studies, including The Big Picture, Buddhism, The Forgotten Truth, Islam, and Why Religion Matters.