Venerable Master Hsing Yun is founder of the Fo Guang Shan (Buddha's Light Mountain) Buddhist order and the Buddha's Light International Association. He has spent 50 years teaching Humanistic Buddhism, which he defines and delineates in this paperback. His goal has been to enable people to realize spiritual practice in everyday living by integrating Buddhist values into education, cultural activities, charity, and religious rituals.

The book is divided into chapters that present a blueprint for life: On Ethics (the Way of Home Life); On Morality (the Way of Cultivation); On Livelihood (the Way of Using Resources); On Emotions (the Way of Love and Affection); On Society (the Way of Oneself and Others); On Loyalty & Filial Piety (the Way of Establishing Oneself); On Wealth (the Way of Financial Management); On Long Life & Happiness (the Way of Ownership); On Maintaining Good Health (the Way of Medicine); On Loving-Kindness & Compassion (the Way of Affinity); On Cause & Effect (the Way of Dependent Origination); On Religion (the Way of Faith); On Life (the Way of Birth and Death); On Knowledge (the Way of Study); On Education & Amusement (the Way of Correct Life); On Funerals & Celebrations (the Way of Right Views); On Nature (the Way of Environmental Protection); On Government (the Way of Participating in Politics); On International Affairs (the Way of Tolerance); On the Future (the Way of Development).

Throughout this blueprint, Master Hsing Yun always returns to his emphasis upon ethics and practicing the virtues. For instance, he states that Buddhism does not reject feelings, "it advocates that feelings be imbued with compassion, purified by reason, circumscribed by etiquette, and guided by wisdom." He ponders the meaning of money and then salutes various kinds of spiritual wealth. We especially were drawn to a meditation on infinite life that we contribute to with faith, morality, wisdom, and merit. This seasoned spiritual teacher provides much food for thought.