THE FOUNDATION OF BUDDHIST PRACTICE

The second volume in the Dalai Lama's definitive and comprehensive series on the stages of the Buddhist path, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion.

Volume 1 of the Library, Approaching the Buddhist Path, contained introductory material that set the context for Buddhist practice. This second volume takes the next step and describes the foundation of Buddhist practice—the important topics that will help us to stay focused on what is worthwhile and to build a firm basis on which to establish a healthy Dharma practice.

Traditional presentations of the path in Tibetan Buddhism assume the audience already has faith in the Buddha and believes in rebirth and karma, but the Dalai Lama realized early that a different approach was needed for his Western students. Starting from the universal human wish for happiness and the dynamic nature of the mind, His Holiness here provides a framework for the modern reader to make sense of this rich tradition. This second volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion provides a wealth of reflections on Buddhist history and fundamentals, contemporary issues, and the Dalai Lama's own personal experiences.