The origins of Buddhism, its spread throughout India and Asia, and its impact on the west are examined. While similar to some western philosophies of self and reality, Buddhism emphasizes the importance of contemplative practices to achieve embodied understanding. Unique to the west is a secularized form of practice commonly called mindfulness. Buddhism is also examined with reference to symbolic interactionism, social construction of reality, Pitirim Sorokin's altruism spectrum, transcendentalism, Buddhist economics, Buddhist and positive psychology, and Buddhist sociology. Finally, social action is explored through a Buddhist lens.