A relaxed chat with the Buddha tells uswhat he thought about impermanence, karma, mindfulness, compassion, love, andeverything else that leads us toward a true understanding of ourselves and thecosmos.We know him as the Buddha, the "Awakened One".Born Siddhartha Gautama 2,500 years ago in northern India, he became one of theworld's greatest spiritual leaders. He suffered as we do, then by his own effortsfound the key to liberation from the bonds of desire, hatred and ignorance. AsWesterners living in relative prosperity, we can identify with this man who hadit all - love, success, money, talent, privilege - but set these things asideto search for something deeper and more enduring. This book presents an accountof the Buddha's life followed by a series of plausible and illuminating butimagined conversations, which probe all aspects of his philosophy for living. Theinsights he conveys here offer us practical wisdom for a better life.

Joan Duncan Oliver has written on spirituality and well-being for many publications, including Health, Self, New Age Journal, O: the Oprah MagazineTricycle and The New York Times. Her previous books include Contemplative Living (2000), Happiness (DBP, 2005) and Good Karma (DBP, 2006). She lives in New York City. Annie Lennox is a singer/songwriter, performer, activist and mother.