bˈuːdɪst kˈɑːməntˌɛɹiz kˈɑːntɹæst ðə "sˈɛntɹəl lˈændz" wˌɛɹ bˈuːdɪzəm ɪz nˈoʊn ænd kæn biː pɹˈæktɪst ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli dʒˈʌst nˈɔːɹðɚn ˈɪndiə, bˌʌt nˈaʊ ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ ɐ mˈʌtʃ lˈɑːɹdʒɚ pˈoːɹʃən ʌvðə ɡlˈoʊb wɪð "bˈoːɹdɚ kˈʌntɹiz" wˌɛɹ bˈuːdɪzəm ɪz ʌnnˈoʊn ɔːɹ kænˈɑːt biː pɹˈæktɪst dˈuː tə lˈiːɡəl ɔːɹ pɹˈæktɪkəl ɪmpˈɛdɪmənts, fɔːɹ ˈɪnstəns, ɐ lˈæk ʌv kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪd tˈiːtʃɚz.
Buddhist commentaries contrast the "central lands" where Buddhism is known and can be practiced (originally just northern India, but now including a much larger portion of the globe) with "border countries" where Buddhism is unknown or cannot be practiced due to legal or practical impediments, for instance, a lack of qualified teachers.