This practical guide to inner transformation, cherished by Tibetans and endorsed by the Dalai Lama, introduces fundamental spiritual practices across Tibetan Buddhist traditions. It serves as a classic commentary on the preliminary practices of the Longchen Nyingtig, a revered teaching cycle of the Nyingmapa school, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Patrul Rinpoche makes complex concepts accessible through engaging stories, quotations, and relatable references. His unique style blends colloquial language, irony, and poetry, capturing the essence of oral teachings. The translators have meticulously preserved the text's precise meaning in English while maintaining the vigor of the original Tibetan. Enhanced by a preface from the Dalai Lama, insightful essays, explanatory notes, and classic illustrations, this edition offers a comprehensive introduction to Tibetan Buddhist practice. It includes translations of a postface by the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and a new preface by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. The notes, glossary, and bibliography have been expanded, Sanskrit terms properly transliterated, and illustrations improved and supplemented, enriching the reader's experience.
